When is tolcapone used?
What is tolcapone? Tolcapone is used together with other medicines (carbidopa and levodopa) to treat symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, such as stiffness, tremors, muscle spasms, and poor muscle control. Tolcapone increases levels of levodopa in the body.
What is the medication tolcapone used for?
Tolcapone is used in combination with levodopa and carbidopa to treat the signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
How is the medication tolcapone different from carbidopa levodopa?
Tolcapone increases levels of levodopa in the body. Tolcapone is usually given to people who are already taking carbidopa and levodopa but have not had successful treatment of symptoms. Tolcapone may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What class of drug is tolcapone?
Tolcapone is a medication used in the management and treatment of Parkinson disease. It is in the catechol-O-methyl transferase inhibitor class of drugs. This activity reviews the indications, action, and contraindications for tolcapone as a valuable agent in the management of Parkinson disease.
Does tolcapone cause liver failure?
Liver injury caused by tolcapone ranges from mild, transient and asymptomatic serum enzyme elevations to clinically apparent hepatitis and acute liver failure.
How does tolcapone help in Parkinson’s disease?
These contain levodopa which helps relieve the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Levodopa is converted into dopamine and this increases the level of dopamine in your brain. Tolcapone works by increasing the effectiveness of the levodopa you are taking in co-beneldopa or co-careldopa.
How does tolcapone relieve the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease?
How much levodopa is too much?
Levodopa dosing is standardized. Sinemet’s label dictates a maximum of eight tablets per day, regardless of whether the levodopa dose is 100 or 250 mg, whereas Rytary, an extended-release formulation, lists a maximum levodopa dose of 2450 mg per day.
Why are carbidopa and levodopa given together?
The combination of levodopa and carbidopa is used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease and Parkinson’s-like symptoms that may develop after encephalitis (swelling of the brain) or injury to the nervous system caused by carbon monoxide poisoning or manganese poisoning.
How much tolcapone can you take in a day?
Carcinogenicity studies in which tolcapone was administered in the diet were conducted in mice and rats. Mice were treated for 80 (female) or 95 (male) weeks with doses of 100, 300 and 800 mg/kg/day, equivalent to 0.8, 1.6 and 4 times human exposure (AUC = 80 ug·hr/mL) at the recommended daily clinical dose of 600 mg.
Is it safe to take tolcapone with levodopa?
Tolcapone belongs to a class of drugs known as COMT inhibitors. Many people taking levodopa for Parkinson’s have problems with the effects of the levodopa wearing off between scheduled doses, causing symptoms to return or worsen.
Are there any side effects to taking tolcapone?
Nausea / vomiting, unwanted/uncontrolled movements, diarrhea, headache, drowsiness, trouble sleeping, increased number of dreams, increased sweating, dry mouth, gas, and abdominal pain may occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
What kind of medication is tolcapone used for?
This medication is used with other medications (levodopa/carbidopa) to treat Parkinson’s disease. Tolcapone belongs to a class of drugs known as COMT inhibitors.