entacapone at a glance
Medicine class
Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitor
Usual role
Added to levodopa when its benefit wears off
Food
May be taken with or without food
Urine colour
Reddish-brown discolouration is common and usually harmless
What is entacapone used for?
The selected product is licensed only as an add-on to levodopa/benserazide or levodopa/carbidopa.
Treatment of adults with Parkinson’s disease whose end-of-dose motor fluctuations are not adequately stabilised with levodopa combinations alone.
How does entacapone work?
Entacapone reversibly blocks COMT, mainly outside the brain. This reduces levodopa breakdown, allowing more to reach the brain and prolonging its clinical effect.
entacapone preparations and strengths
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 200 mg
How to take entacapone
Take entacapone by mouth only with the prescribed levodopa preparation and follow the dispensing label.
It may be taken with or without food.
Do not change or suddenly stop entacapone or other Parkinson’s treatments without discussing this with the Parkinson’s team.
entacapone side effects
Common or expected effects
- Involuntary movements or worsening dyskinesia
- Nausea, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, constipation, vomiting or dry mouth
- Dizziness
- Hallucinations, confusion or sleep disturbance
- Fatigue, increased sweating or falls
- Harmless reddish-brown urine discolouration
Get urgent medical advice
- Allergic reaction with facial or throat swelling or breathing difficulty
- High fever, severe stiffness and confusion suggesting neuroleptic malignant syndrome
- Severe muscle pain or weakness suggesting rhabdomyolysis
- Persistent diarrhoea, particularly with weight loss, which may indicate colitis
- Sudden sleep episodes or severe daytime sleepiness
- New compulsive gambling, spending, eating or sexual behaviours
- Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine or other possible signs of liver injury
entacapone in pregnancy
Human pregnancy experience is insufficient, and the selected product should not be used during pregnancy. If pregnant or planning pregnancy, promptly discuss treatment with the specialist rather than stopping it independently.
entacapone while breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is not recommended because infant safety is unknown and animal studies found entacapone in milk. Discuss feeding or treatment options with the specialist team.
entacapone interactions
Check prescribed, over-the-counter and complementary products with a pharmacist or prescriber. Important examples include:
Non-selective monoamine oxidase inhibitors
Use with medicines such as phenelzine or tranylcypromine is contraindicated. Combining selective MAO-A and MAO-B inhibition with entacapone is also contraindicated.
Iron supplements
Entacapone can bind iron in the gut and reduce absorption.
Warfarin
Entacapone may increase its anticoagulant effect; INR monitoring is recommended when entacapone is started.
Common questions about entacapone
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
Why is entacapone prescribed with levodopa?
It slows levodopa breakdown and prolongs its effect, helping reduce end-of-dose wearing off.
Can entacapone treat Parkinson’s disease by itself?
No. It has no useful symptom-relieving effect without levodopa.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.