Brand Name: Comtan®
Active Ingredient: entacapone
Strength(s): 200mg
Dosage Form(s): Tablets
Company Name: Orion Corporation
Availability: Prescription only
Date Approved by FDA: October 19, 1999

What is Comtan used for?

Comtan is used together with carbidopa/ levodopa to treat people with Parkinson’s disease that experience the signs and symptoms of end-of-dose "wearing-off".

Comtan’s effectiveness has not been proven in people with Parkinson’s disease that do not experience end-of-dose "wearing-off".

General Precautions:

• Comtan should be used with caution in patients with liver problems.
• Do not stop taking Comtan without first discussing it with your doctor.
• Do not drive a car or operate heavy machinery until you know how you will react to Comtan.
• Be especially careful when taking other sleep-inducing drugs while using Comtan

What should I tell my doctor or health care provider?

• Because certain other medications can interact with Comtan, review all medications that you are taking with your health care provider, including those that you take without a prescription.
• Check with your health care provider to make sure that you are not taking certain types of monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors.
• Tell your health care provider if you are trying to become pregnant, are pregnant, or are breast-feeding.

What are some possible side effects of Comtan? (This is NOT a complete list of side effects reported with Comtan. Your health care provider can discuss with you a more complete list of side effects.)

Some of the side effects listed below may not appear for up to twelve weeks.

• Abnormal jerky movements
• Nausea
• Discolored (brownish orange) urine
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Dizziness or fainting especially upon quickly standing or going from a laying down to an upright position
• Confusion
• Sweating

Individuals treated with Comtan should tell their health care provider right away if they develop any of the following symptoms:

• Severe diarrhea
• Hallucinations
• Muscle pain or prolonged rigidity
• High fever

Date created: June 7, 2000; Last updated:  December 29, 2004