Tolcapone

Pronunciation

Brand Names

Therapeutic Categories

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.

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.

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.

What are the precautions when taking this medicine?

• You may not be alert. Avoid driving, doing other tasks or hobbies until you see how this medicine affects you.
• Avoid alcohol (includes wine, beer, and liquor) and other medicines that slow your actions and reactions. This includes sedatives, tranquilizers, mood stabilizers, and 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 hobbies 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.

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.

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.

How should I store this medicine?

• Store in a tight container at room temperature.

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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