Do you or someone in your family have Parkinson's disease? If so, your doctor may have prescribed you a medication called Entacapone. You may have also seen this name under the brand name Comtan. So, today we will talk very simply about this medication, how to use it, and what to be aware of.
What kind of medicine is Entacapone?
Simply put, Entacapone is a medication that helps control the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. But it's not usually a stand-alone medication. Entacapone helps the two medications you already take for Parkinson's disease, Levodopa and Carbidopa, work better and last longer. It's like an extra boost to your main medication.
Things you need to tell your doctor before taking medicine
Before your doctor prescribes this medicine, he or she will need to know a complete history of your health. This is important, as some conditions may make this medicine incompatible. Be sure to tell your doctor about the following:
- If you have any liver disease .
- If you have a past or current mental illness .
- If you have a sleep disorder like narcolepsy.
- If you have sleep apnea .
- If you have an allergic reaction to this Entacapone medication, other medications, foods, or preservatives.
- If you are pregnant, or are hoping to become pregnant .
- If you are a breastfeeding mother .
Giving this information to the doctor is very important for your safety.
How should I use this medicine?
It is important to follow the exact instructions for taking this medicine.
- How to take: Take this tablet with a glass of water at the same time as your Levodopa-Carbidopa medication. Take it at the same time as your doctor tells you. You can take it with or without food.
- Dosage: Do not take more than the doctor tells you to.
- Stopping: Do not stop taking this medicine suddenly without your doctor's advice. This can cause serious side effects. If you do stop, your doctor will tell you how to do it.
- If you miss a dose: If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the scheduled time. Never take two doses at once.
- Overdose: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital, or go to the Emergency Department (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
- Sharing: This medicine is for you only. Do not share it with anyone else, even if your symptoms are the same as yours.
Things to keep in mind when taking medication
When using this medicine, you need to be a little careful about changes in your body.
Very important: When taking this medicine, you may suddenly fall asleep without warning . This can happen while driving or talking. This can happen even if you do not feel sleepy. If this happens to you, tell your doctor immediately.
- Drowsiness and dizziness: You may feel drowsy or dizzy. So, do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medicine affects you. Especially if you are elderly, do not stand or sit up suddenly. Do these things slowly. This will reduce the chance of dizziness and falling.
- Urges: Some people may experience uncontrollable urges to gamble, have sex, or spend money unnecessarily while taking this medication. If you experience any of these symptoms, don't be shy and tell your doctor as soon as possible.
- Urine color: This medication may cause your urine to turn dark yellow, orange, or brown. This is normal and should not be alarming.
- Dry mouth: Your mouth may feel dry. Chewing sugar-free gum and drinking more water may help.
- Skin changes: While taking this medicine, check your skin regularly for changes in moles or new spots. Tell your doctor if you notice any changes.
- Alcohol: Drinking alcohol can interfere with the effects of this medicine, so avoid alcohol.
What side effects might I experience?
Like any medicine, this one can cause side effects in some people. Let's break them down into two categories.
| Side effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Side effects that should be reported to your doctor immediately | |
| Allergies | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips or tongue. |
| Mental changes | Confusion, hallucinations, sudden changes in mood. |
| Sudden sleep | Falling asleep suddenly during normal activities such as driving. |
| Uncontrollable movements | Uncontrolled movements of limbs such as hands, face, neck, and mouth. |
| Other serious symptoms | Severe diarrhea, fever, dizziness, and difficulty urinating. |
| Things to tell your doctor if they persist or are bothersome | |
| Common disorders | Common diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, nausea, stomach discomfort. |
Other medications that may interact with this medicine
This medicine may interact with some other medications, so it is important to tell your doctor about all medications you are taking (including vitamins, supplements, and Ayurvedic medicines) .
Warning: Never take Entacapone with MAOIs , a class of medications used to treat mental illness, such as Marplan, Nardil, or Parnate.
In addition, antibiotics such as ampicillin, erythromycin, and rifampin, iron supplements, blood thinners such as warfarin, painkillers, and many other medications can interact with this. So give your doctor a complete list.
Take-Home Message
- Entacapone is an additional medication used in conjunction with Levodopa/Carbidopa for Parkinson's disease.
- Before starting this medication, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and all other medications you are taking.
- If you experience sudden sleepiness, uncontrollable urges, or severe confusion, seek medical advice immediately.
- It's normal for your urine to be orange/brown, so don't be alarmed.
- Never stop taking this medication suddenly without your doctor's advice.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න