Type of medicine: anti-Parkinson's; reverse COMT inhibitor
Generic and brand names: tolcapone, oral; Tasmar
This medicine is taken by mouth to treat Parkinson's disease. It is used when symptoms are severe and other medicines have not worked. It is used to help levodopa and carbidopa work better.
Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:
Do not take this medicine and an MAO inhibitor antidepressant within 14 days of each other.
Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while taking this medicine. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.
Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not stop taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval. Do not take more of this medicine than prescribed.
You may take this medicine with or without food. Taking it with meals may lessen the chance the drug will upset your stomach. Tell your healthcare provider if stomach upset continues.
Your healthcare provider may adjust your dosage after you begin taking this medicine. Be sure you understand when to take each medicine and how much to take.
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.
If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.
Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: nausea, vomiting, dizziness.
This medicine may cause severe or life-threatening liver problems. Your provider will test your liver function before, during, and after treatment with this medicine. Keep all appointments for these tests.
If you develop signs of liver problems, stop using this drug and contact your healthcare provider right away. Signs of liver problems include:
Contact your healthcare provider if your condition does not improve within 3 weeks or if it gets worse.
Some people taking medicines for Parkinson's disease have developed skin cancer (melanoma). Talk to your healthcare provider about this and what to watch for. You may need to have regular skin exams.
You may have increased sexual urges, unusual urges to gamble, or other intense urges while taking this medicine. Talk with your healthcare provider if you experience any intense or unusual urges while taking this medicine.
This medicine may cause hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there). Adults over the age of 75 may be at greater risk for this. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.
When you get up too quickly from sitting or lying down, you may have dizziness, nausea, fainting, and sometimes sweating. Try getting up slowly. These feelings usually lessen after you have taken this medicine for a while.
This medicine may make you drowsy or dizzy. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert and know how this medicine will affect you.
This medicine increases the effects of alcohol and other drugs that slow down your nervous system. Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines unless your healthcare provider approves.
If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell your healthcare provider you are taking this medicine.
Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.
Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away). If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; chest pain or tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).
Serious (report these to your healthcare provider): Trouble moving, fainting, severe dizziness when you stand, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there), confusion, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, trouble breathing, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, pale-colored stools, unusual tiredness, loss of appetite, stomach pain, itching, severe or bloody diarrhea, twitching, severe muscle pain and fever, muscle stiffness, tremors or increased loss of muscle control, trouble urinating or bloody urine.
Other: Trouble sleeping, drowsiness, dizziness, muscle cramps, vomiting, mild diarrhea, constipation, headache, trouble sleeping, dreaming more than usual, dry mouth.
When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:
Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.
If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.
Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.
This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.
Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.
Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.
Do not share medicines with other people.
