Entacapone in the management of Parkinson's disease

Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2002 Jul;3(7):957-63. doi: 10.1517/14656566.3.7.957.

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.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antiparkinson Agents / adverse effects
  • Antiparkinson Agents / pharmacology
  • Antiparkinson Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase Inhibitors*
  • Catecholamines / blood
  • Catechols / adverse effects
  • Catechols / pharmacology
  • Catechols / therapeutic use*
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Levodopa / pharmacokinetics
  • Levodopa / therapeutic use
  • Nitriles
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy*
  • Parkinson Disease / metabolism

Substances

  • Antiparkinson Agents
  • Catechol O-Methyltransferase Inhibitors
  • Catecholamines
  • Catechols
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Nitriles
  • Levodopa
  • entacapone