TOLCAPONE

(TOLE ka pone) Brand: Tasmar

What is the most significant information I must know about tolcapone?

• You must not use this medication if you have liver malady, if you have ever had liver problems caused by tolcapone, or if you have ever had muscle hurt or fever and confusion caused by using any medication.

• Do not use tolcapone if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.

• Tolcapone can reason liver failure. Your doctor will perform blood trials to create certain you do not have conditions that would prevent you from safely using tolcapone.

• Call your doctor at once if you have nausea, upper stomach pain, feeling weary, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

• Your liver function will need to be checked often: Each 2 to 4 weeks for the first 6 months of treatment, and then as often as your doctor recommends.

• In rare cases, tolcapone can reason a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, leading to kidney failure. Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially if you also have fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine.

What is tolcapone?

• Tolcapone is used together with another medicines (carbidopa and levodopa) to treat symptoms of Parkinson's malady, such as stiffness, tremors, muscle spasms, and poor muscle control. Tolcapone increases levels of levodopa in the body.

• Tolcapone is generally given to people who are already taking carbidopa and levodopa but have not had successful treatment of symptoms.

• Tolcapone may also be used for another purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking tolcapone?

• You must not use this medication if you are allergic to tolcapone, or if you have:

· liver disease;

· a history of liver problems caused by tolcapone; or

· a history of muscle hurt or fever and confusion caused by using any medication.

• Do not use tolcapone if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine.

• Tolcapone can reason liver failure. Your doctor will perform blood trials to create certain you do not have conditions that would prevent you from safely using tolcapone. You may be required to read and sign a Patient Consent form till you get a prescription for tolcapone.

• To create certain tolcapone is safety for you, speak your doctor if you have:

· kidney malady; or

· low blood pressure.

• You may have heighten sexual urges, unusual urges to gamble, or another intense urges while taking this medicine. Conversation with your doctor if this occurs.

• Some people taking Parkinson's malady medications have developed skin cancer (melanoma). However, people with Parkinson's malady may have a higher risk of melanoma. Conversation to your doctor about this risk and what skin symptoms to watch for. You may need to have regular skin exams.

• FDA pregnancy category C. It is not known whether tolcapone will harm an unborn child. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication.

• It is not known whether tolcapone passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. Speak your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

• Tolcapone may reason hallucinations (the sensation of hearing or seeing something that is not there), most commonly among elderly people. Call your doctor if you have hallucinations.

How must I take tolcapone?

• Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your doze to create certain you get the excellent results. Do not take this medication in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended.

• Do not take tolcapone as your only Parkinson's medicine. Tolcapone should be used in combination with carbidopa and levodopa.

• Tolcapone is generally taken three times a day. The first doze is taken with your first daily doze of carbidopa and levodopa. The second and third doses of tolcapone are taken 6 and 12 hours later.

• Tolcapone may be taken with or without food.

• Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 3 weeks of treatment.

• Tolcapone may reason you to fall asleep during usual daytime activities such as working, talking, eating, or driving. You may fall asleep suddenly, even after feeling alert. Speak your doctor if you have any problems with daytime sleepiness or drowsiness.

• Your liver function will need to be checked often: Each 2 to 4 weeks for the first 6 months of treatment, and then as often as your doctor recommends.

• Do not stop using tolcapone suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms. Ask your doctor how to safely stop using tolcapone.

• Store at room temperature in a tightly closed container, away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What must I avoid while taking tolcapone?

• This medicine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

• Avoid getting up too quick from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

• Drinking alcohol can magnify determined side effects of tolcapone.

What are the possible side effects of tolcapone?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Call your doctor at once if you have:

· nausea, upper stomach pain, feeling weary, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);

· confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior;

· severe or ongoing diarrhea;

· worsening tremors, stiffness, or muscle spasms; or

· a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out.

• General side effects may include:

· drowsiness;

· mild diarrhea;

· sleep problems; or

· heighten sweating.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect tolcapone?

• Taking this medication with another drugs that create you sleepy or slow your breathing can worsen these effects. Ask your doctor till taking tolcapone with a sleeping pill, narcotic pain medication, muscle relaxer, or medication for anxiety, depression, or seizures.

• Another drugs may interact with tolcapone, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal commodity. Speak every of your health care providers about all medicines you use now and any medication you start or stop using.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about tolcapone.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.