Entacapone tablets 100 mg for Parkinson disease

General information on Japanese Entacapone tablets 100 mg for Parkinson disease    

Package details: 100 tablets

Manufacturer: Towa Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Japan

Active ingredient: entacapone (chemical formula C14H15N3O5)

Medical effect: Entacapone tablets are effective for prolongating the time of levodopa effectiveness in patients with Parkinson disease.

Contraindications and precautions: do not use in the following categories of patients:-patients with malignant syndrome or history of it,

• patients with rhabdomyolysis or history of this disease,
• pregnant women,
• breastfeeding women.

If an allergic reaction occurs, stop using the medication and consult with your doctor. If you’re taking any other medication, please consult with your doctor before use.

The medicine can cause change in the urine color to red-brown. If the urine becomes dark red or it comes with another symptoms like muscle pain, check with your doctor to avoid the risk of rhabdomyolysis. As the medicine may cause sleepiness or drowsiness, avoid driving a car or operating dangerous machinery while taking this medication. Impulsive behavior may occur (pathological increase in sexual desire and appetite, repeatedly excessive or unplanned shopping, gambling etc.).

Dosage and administration of Japanese Entacapone tablets 100 mg for Parkinson disease 

For adults, take 1 tablet at a time, with levodopa/carbidopa or levodopa/benserazide hydrochloride combination tablets. The dosage may be increased to 2 tablets at a time according to the symptoms. However, the maximum daily administration of 2 tablets 8 times a day should not be exceeded.

If you miss a dose of both entacapone tablets and levodopa/carbidopa or levodopa/benserazide tablets, take both when you remembered. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and continue your regular dosing schedule. If you miss only entacapone tablets but take levodopa tablets, skip the missed dose of entacapone and take usual dose with next dose of the levodopa preparations. Never take two doses of entacapone at one time.

The dosage may be adjusted by the consulting doctor due to age and symptoms.

How effective are Entacapone tablets 100 mg from Japan for Parkinson disease?

Entacapone tablets are designed to prolong time when levodopa is effective in patients with Parkinson disease. They work by inhibiting metabolic enzyme of levodopa in the periphery and efficiently allowing levodopa to penetrate into the brain. Consequently, Entacapone tablets improve diurnal variation of symptoms of Parkinson's disease and motor fluctuations in patient with Parkinson's disease given with combination use of levodopa/carbidopa, or levodopa/benserazide hydrochloride.

Who should use Entacapone tablets 100 mg?

Studies show that Entacapone effectively prolongs levodopa’s half-life and has much fewer side effects than tolcapone (S. A. Factor, E. S. Molho et al. Long-term Comparative Experience With Tolcapone and Entacapone in Advanced Parkinson's Disease // Clinical Neuropharmacology. 2001, September-October, 24(5): 295-9). Particularly, it does not injure the liver and can be used for patients with the history of liver impairment. Also, Entacapone tablets do not require rigorous blood monitoring, so they won’t increase the burden of caregiver.