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| Pronunciation |
|
 (TOLE
ka
pone) |
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| Brand Names |
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| Tasmar® |
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| Therapeutic
Categories |
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|
Anti-Parkinson's Agent (COMT Inhibitor) |
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| What key warnings should I know
about before taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- There is a risk of severe liver damage with use of this medicine.
This medicine is only for patients with Parkinson's disease. It is only for
patients on levodopa/carbidopa who are not responding to other therapies. Other
therapies may not be right for the patient. If you have been on this medicine
for 3 weeks and you do not see any benefit then ask healthcare provider about
the need to continue this medicine. If you have any liver disease tell your
healthcare provider. You will need a blood test to check liver function before
starting this medicine. If you had liver changes from this medicine in the past
then do not use this medicine again. Watch for clay-colored bowel movements,
yellowing of skin or eyes, feeling tired, worn-out, or losing your appetite.
Call healthcare provider right away if you have any of these symptoms. If you
are started on this medicine then you will have blood work done every 2 weeks
for the first year. Tolcapone will be stopped if any liver changes are
seen.
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| Reasons not to take this
medicine |
|
|
- If you have an allergy to tolcapone or any other part of the
medicine.
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|
|
| What is this medicine used
for? |
|
|
- This medicine is used with levodopa/carbidopa
(Sinemet®) in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
- It is used when symptoms are not well controlled and other therapies
are not right for you.
|
|
|
| How does it work? |
|
|
- Tolcapone increases the concentration of levodopa in your system. This
may help improve symptoms during the active hours of the
day.
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|
| How is it best taken? |
|
|
- Take with or without food. Take with food if this medicine causes an
upset stomach.
- Take only with levodopa or levodopa/carbidopa.
- Do not suddenly stop using this medicine if you have been taking it
for a long time. This medicine should be slowly
decreased.
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|
|
| What do I do if I miss a
dose? |
|
|
- Take a missed dose as soon as possible.
- If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed one. Return to
your regular schedule.
- Do not take a double dose or extra doses.
- Do not change dose or stop using this medicine without talking with
healthcare provider.
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| What are the precautions when
taking this
medicine? |
|
|
- You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or activities
until you see how this medicine affects you.
- Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) and other medicines
and herbs that slow your actions and reactions. This includes sedatives,
tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, or pain medicine. Talk with healthcare
provider.
- Do not use this medicine if you have liver disease. Talk with
healthcare provider.
- Do not take this medicine with monoamine oxidase inhibitors. These
include isocarboxazid, phenelzine, and tranylcypromine.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are on warfarin. You may need closer
monitoring at first.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are allergic to any medicine. Make
sure to tell about the allergy and how it affected you. This includes telling
about rash; hives; itching; shortness of breath; wheezing; cough; swelling of
face, lips, tongue, throat; or any other symptoms involved.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan on getting
pregnant.
- Tell healthcare provider if you are
breast-feeding.
|
|
|
| What are the common side effects
of this
medicine? |
|
|
- Nausea. Small frequent meals, frequent mouth care, sucking hard candy,
or chewing gum may help.
- Extra muscle activity or slow movement. Levodopa/carbidopa may need
adjustment.
- Feeling sleepy or tired. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or
activities that require you to be alert until you see how this medicine affects
you.
- Dizziness is common. Rise slowly over several minutes from sitting or
lying position. Be careful climbing stairs.
- Changes color of urine.
- Not feeling hungry.
- Diarrhea.
- Liver damage. This is unusual but if it occurs can be life
threatening.
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| What should I monitor? |
|
|
- Check blood work (liver function tests) before the start of treatment
and every 2 weeks for the first year, then once monthly for 6 months, then every
2 months after that. Talk with healthcare provider.
- Changes in Parkinson's disease. Is it better, worse, or about the
same? Keep a diary of your symptoms.
- Follow up with healthcare
provider.
|
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|
| Reasons to call healthcare
provider
immediately |
|
|
- Signs of a life-threatening reaction. These include wheezing;
tightness in the chest; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; fits;
swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Severe diarrhea.
- Hallucinations.
- Nausea, vomiting, belly pain, feeling tired, dark urine, yellow
eyes/skin, not hungry.
- Any rash.
- No improvement in condition or feeling
worse.
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| How should I store this
medicine? |
|
|
- Store in a tight container at room
temperature.
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| General statements |
|
|
- Do not share your medicine with others and do not take anyone else's
medicine.
- Keep all medicine out of the reach of children and pets.
- Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, herbal/supplements,
vitamins, over-the-counter) with you. Give this list to healthcare provider
(doctor, nurse, pharmacist, physician assistant).
- Talk with healthcare provider before starting any new medicine,
including over-the-counter or natural products (herbs,
vitamins).
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