Entacapone in the management of Parkinson's disease.

Full Abstract

Entacapone is one of a new class of drugs, the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors, which expand the therapeutic options for Parkinson's disease by extending the action of levodopa. Entacapone is used in conjunction with levodopa and provides benefit to patients who suffer from motor fluctuations. Side effects include worsening of the dyskinesias associated with peak doses of levodopa, hypotension, constipation and urine discoloration. Unlike tolcapone, an earlier COMT inhibitor, entacapone does not require liver function monitoring.

Author information

Author/s: Henchcliffe, Claire (C); Waters, Cheryl (C);

Affiliation: The Neurological Institute, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Review

Journal: Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy (Expert Opin Pharmacother), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Jul; vol 3 (issue 7) : pp 957-63

Dates: Created 2002/06/26; Completed 2002/12/23; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 12083995, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MeSH Headings (categories) shown below.

Antiparkinson Agents - adverse effects; pharmacology; therapeutic use
Catechol O-Methyltransferase - antagonists & inhibitors
Catecholamines - blood
Catechols - adverse effects; pharmacology; therapeutic use
Clinical Trials as Topic
Drug Therapy, Combination

Drug Therapy, Combination
Enzyme Inhibitors - adverse effects; pharmacology; therapeutic use
Humans
Levodopa - pharmacokinetics; therapeutic use
Nitriles
Parkinson Disease - drug therapy; metabolism

Note: Bold headings indicate primary MeSH headings or qualifiers.

Associated Chemicals: Antiparkinson Agents (0) ; Catecholamines (0) ; Catechols (0) ; Enzyme Inhibitors (0) ; Levodopa (0) ; Nitriles (0) ; entacapone (116314-67-1) ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase (EC 2.1.1.6)

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