Prescription Medicine

Comtan^® is a prescription medicine for the treatment of symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease in people already taking a medicine called levodopa. The tablet contains 200mg of entacapone. Check with your doctor if Comtan is right for you. Comtan is funded under special criteria and doctor’s charges will apply. Do not take Comtan if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, have liver disease, a tumour on the adrenal gland ((phaeochrom-ocytoma), severe  muscle weakness or a serious condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Tell your doctor if you have severe kidney disease or are on dialysis or you are on certain medicines for depression like MAO inhibitors, warfarin or iron. Common side effects are nausea or vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, pain in the stomach, dry mouth, dizziness, vertigo, shakiness, headache, increased sweating, difficulty sleeping, unusual dreams, feeling depressed, reddish-brown urine. Rarely sudden onset sleepiness. If symptoms persist or you have side effects see your doctor. Always read the label and use strictly as directed. Comtan is the registered trademark of Novartis AG. Novartis New Zealand Limited, Auckland.

For further information check the Consumer Medicine Information [CMI]

The contents and information given in this website are not intended to replace the consultation and advice on your individual situation from your own doctor.
 

Last Updated: January 2010

TAPS NA1158

 Patient Dosing Guide

Comtan^® is used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease in people who are already taking a medicine called levodopa. When levodopa* on its own does not control the symptoms, Comtan can be added.

How often should I take Comtan?

Take one Comtan tablet each time you take a dose of levodopa. People with moderate to severe Parkinson’s disease usually take from 4 to 7 tablets of Comtan each day. The maximum dose is 10 tablets per day.

Decreasing your current dose of levodopa

Because Comtan increases the action of levodopa, it can also increase some of its side effects, especially at the start of treatment. To prevent this from happening, your doctor may lower your usual dose of levodopa for a few days or weeks. However, it is still important that you take a tablet of Comtan each time you take a dose of levodopa.

Your doctor may reduce the actual amount of levodopa you take at each dose or suggest you extend the time interval between taking levodopa. Below is an example of how the dosing interval could be extended.

Example of levodopa dosing interval before initiating Comtan e.g. 6 daily doses:

The above example effectively reduces the overall daily amount of levodopa taken by simply extending the dosing interval throughout the day.

Download Comtan Dosing Reminder Guide as a pdf
 

* Levodopa is available as Sinemet^®, registered trademark of Merck Sharpe & Dohme (New Zealand Limited) and Madopar^®, registered trademark of Roche Products (New Zealand) Limited.

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