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Comtan (Entacapone) - Summary

 
 



COMTAN SUMMARY

Comtan® (entacapone) is available as tablets containing 200-mg entacapone. Entacapone is an inhibitor of catechol- O -methyltransferase (COMT), used in the treatment of Parkinson's Disease as an adjunct to levodopa/carbidopa therapy. It is a nitrocatechol-structured compound with a relative molecular mass of 305.29.

Comtan (entacapone) is indicated as an adjunct to levodopa/carbidopa to treat patients with idiopathic Parkinson's Disease who experience the signs and symptoms of end-of-dose "wearing-off" (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Clinical Studies).

Comtan's effectiveness has not been systematically evaluated in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's Disease who do not experience end-of-dose "wearing-off".


See all Comtan indications & dosage >>

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Media Articles Related to Comtan (Entacapone)

Parkinson's Disease Quiz: Test Your Medical IQ
Source: MedicineNet Dementia Specialty [2017.09.19]
Title: Parkinson's Disease Quiz: Test Your Medical IQ
Category: MedicineNet Quiz
Created: 8/23/2011 12:53:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 9/19/2017 6:54:29 PM

Parkinson's Disease and Melanoma May Occur Together, Study Finds
Source: MedicineNet Melanoma Specialty [2017.07.10]
Title: Parkinson's Disease and Melanoma May Occur Together, Study Finds
Category: Health News
Created: 7/7/2017 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 7/10/2017 12:00:00 AM

Hepatitis Infection May Raise Risk for Parkinson's Disease
Source: MedicineNet Tremor Specialty [2017.03.31]
Title: Hepatitis Infection May Raise Risk for Parkinson's Disease
Category: Health News
Created: 3/30/2017 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 3/31/2017 12:00:00 AM

Parkinson's Disease
Source: MedicineNet amantadine Specialty [2016.08.09]
Title: Parkinson's Disease
Category: Diseases and Conditions
Created: 12/31/1997 12:00:00 AM
Last Editorial Review: 8/9/2016 12:00:00 AM

Parkinson's Disease: Symptoms, Causes, Stages, Treatment
Source: MedicineNet rivastigmine Specialty [2016.06.01]
Title: Parkinson's Disease: Symptoms, Causes, Stages, Treatment
Category: Slideshows
Created: 8/16/2011 6:25:00 PM
Last Editorial Review: 6/1/2016 12:00:00 AM

more news >>

Published Studies Related to Comtan (Entacapone)

Entacapone augmentation of antipsychotic treatment in schizophrenic patients with negative symptoms; a double-blind placebo-controlled study. [2014]
Negative symptoms in schizophrenia are associated with decreased dopaminergic activity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). It is hypothesized that increasing dopamine levels would alleviate negative symptoms...

The COMT Val158Met polymorphism affects the response to entacapone in Parkinson's disease: a randomized crossover clinical trial. [2011.01]
OBJECTIVE: In Parkinson disease (PD), the selective C-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor entacapone prolongs the effect of levodopa on motor symptoms (ON time) by increasing its bioavailability. The COMT Val158Met polymorphism is equally distributed in PD patients and modulates COMT activity, which can be high (Val/Val, COMT(HH) ), intermediate (Val/Met, COMT(HL) ), or low (Met/Met, COMT(LL) ). The objective of this study was to determine the response to entacapone in COMT(HH) and COMT(LL) PD patients... INTERPRETATION: The COMT(HH) genotype in PD patients enhances the effect of entacapone on the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of levodopa. The response to entacapone after repeated administrations and in heterozygous patients remains to be determined. Copyright (c) 2010 American Neurological Association.

Effects of carbidopa and entacapone on the metabolic fate of the norepinephrine prodrug L-DOPS. [2011.01]
BACKGROUND: L-threo-3,4-dihydroxyphenylserine (L-DOPS), a norepinephrine (NE) prodrug, is investigational for orthostatic hypotension, which occurs commonly in Parkinson's disease. Adjunctive anti-parkinsonian drugs might interact with L-DOPS. We tested whether L-aromatic amino-acid decarboxylase inhibition by carbidopa (CAR) attenuates L-DOPS conversion to NE and blocks the pressor effect of L-DOPS, whereas catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibition by entacapone (ENT) interferes with L-DOPS metabolism and augments the pressor effect... CONCLUSIONS: After L-DOPS administration plasma, NE levels do not increase sufficiently to increase blood pressure. Pressor responses to L-DOPS seem to reflect NE produced extraneuronally that escapes extensive enzymatic deamination and O-methylation and evokes vasoconstriction before reaching the systemic circulation.

Effects of carbidopa and entacapone on the metabolic fate of the norepinephrine prodrug L-DOPS. [2011]
interferes with L-DOPS metabolism and augments the pressor effect... CONCLUSIONS: After L-DOPS administration plasma, NE levels do not increase

Night-time bioavailability of levodopa/carbidopa/entacapone is higher compared to controlled-release levodopa/carbidopa. [2010.11]
OBJECTIVE: Controlled-release levodopa/carbidopa (CR-LC) is often used to provide prolonged control of night-time motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). Levodopa/carbidopa/entacapone (LCE) provides higher bioavailability of levodopa compared with levodopa/carbidopa formulations and has been shown to be effective in PD patients with wearing-off symptoms. The aim of this study was to compare the bioavailability of levodopa after a single evening dose (administered at 10 p.m.) of LCE 200 or CR-LC 200... CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study demonstrate that a single bedtime dose of LCE 200 provides higher bioavailability of levodopa compared to CR-LC 200.

more studies >>

Clinical Trials Related to Comtan (Entacapone)

Augmenting Effects of L-DOPS With Carbidopa and Entacapone [Terminated]
An experimental drug called L-DOPS increases production in the body of a messenger chemical called norepinephrine. Cells in the brain that make norepinephrine are often gone in Parkinson disease. The exact consequences of this loss are unknown, but they may be related to symptoms such as fatigue, depression, or decreased attention that occur commonly in Parkinson disease. This study will explore effects of L-DOPS in conjunction with carbidopa and entacapone, which are drugs used to treat Parkinson disease. We wish to find out what the effects are of increasing norepinephrine production in the brain and whether carbidopa and entacapone augment those effects. Volunteers for this study must be at least 18 years of age and able to give consent to participate in the study. To participate in the study, volunteers must discontinue use of alcohol, tobacco, and certain herbal medicines or dietary supplements, and must also taper or discontinue certain kinds of medications that might interfere with the results of the study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history and physical exam. Participants will be admitted to the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center for two weeks of testing. The study will have three testing phases in a randomly chosen order for each participant:

- Single dose of L-DOPS

- Single dose of L-DOPS in conjunction with carbidopa

- Single dose of L-DOPS in conjunction with entacapone

Each phase will last two days, with a washout day between each phase in which no drugs will be given and no testing will be performed. In each phase, participants will undergo a series of tests and measurements, including blood pressure and electrocardiogram tests. Participants who are healthy volunteers will also have blood drawn and will undergo a lumbar puncture (also known as a spinal tap) to obtain spinal fluid for chemical tests.

Effect of Entacapone on Bodyweight Loss in Obese Population [Recruiting]
This is a randomized, controlled, double blind clinical trial. The purpose of this study is to investigate the weight loss efficacy of entacapone. In this study, participants are randomly divided into entacapone and placebo groups. The percentage change in body weight, the body mass index, waist circumstance, extent of fatty liver, quantity of visceral fat, serum insulin, serum triglyceride and the adverse effects are compared between the two groups.

COMT Polymorphism and Entacapone Efficacy [Completed]
Entacapone is an antiparkinsonian drug which block L-dopa metabolism, inhibiting the C-O-methyltransferase (COMT) enzyme. There is an individual variability of the COMT activity determined by a genetic polymorphism. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the genetic variability influences entacapone efficacy in Parkinson's disease.

Pilot Study of Entacapone for Methamphetamine Abuse [Recruiting]
Addiction to methamphetamine is a serious health problem. There are no medications that a doctor can give someone to help them stop using methamphetamine. Entacapone (Comtan©) is a medication that could help people addicted to methamphetamine. This study will see how entacapone works in healthy people who are given methamphetamine. We think that the study drug will be well tolerated, and that it will prevent some of the effects of methamphetamine that make it so addictive. We also want to see how differences in people's genes may cause differences in the ways the study drug and methamphetamine work for them. The study has six total visits. The first visit is for screening. Tests and procedures will make sure it is safe for subjects to participate. The second visit is a familiarization day. Subjects will receive methamphetamine, but no entacapone. This is done to make sure they can tolerate the drug and recognize its effects before being given a second drug on the same day. Subjects will take surveys and computer tests to see how the medications change mood, thinking, and liking the drug. The final four visits are the actual study days. Subjects will be randomly assigned (like the flip of a coin) to the different ways to get either 1) study medication or placebo (placebo contains no active study medication) and then 2) methamphetamine or placebo. Subjects will be in all four groups during the study, which means that each day a subject will get a different group.

Efficacy and Safety of BIA 9-1067 in Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease Patients With "Wearing-off" Phenomenon [Completed]
This study aims to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of BIA 9-1067, compared with entacapone or placebo, when administered with the existing treatment of L-DOPA plus a Dopa Decarboxylase Inhibitor (DDCI), in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD) and end-of-dose motor fluctuations.

more trials >>

Reports of Suspected Comtan (Entacapone) Side Effects

Dysphagia (8)Pain in Extremity (8)Blood Creatine Phosphokinase Increased (6)Parkinson's Disease (6)Abnormal Behaviour (6)Dyskinesia (5)Muscle Spasms (5)Chromaturia (5)Akinesia (5)Tremor (5)more >>


Page last updated: 2017-09-19

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