Tasmar (Tolcapone) is used together with other medications when all other alternative medications cannot stabilise your Parkinson’s disease.
Why have I been prescribed Tasmar?
Tasmar (Tolcapone) is used together with other medications when all other alternative medications cannot stabilise your Parkinson’s disease.
How does it work?
- There is a natural enzyme in your body that breaks down the levodopa medication used to treat your Parkinson’s disease.
- Tasmar blocks this enzyme and slows the breakdown of levodopa.
- This means when it is taken together with levodopa you should have an improvement in your symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
When and how do I take it?
- Swallow Tasmar with water.
- Tasmar can be taken with or without food.
- The first dose of Tasmar is taken with the first dose of the day of levodopa and the other doses of Tasmar are taken about 6 and 12 hours later.
- Take one tablet in the morning, one tablet in the middle of the day and one tablet in the evening.
What’s the dose?
- Your doctor should always begin your treatment with the standard dose (100 mg three times a day).
- If benefits are not seen within 3 weeks of the initiation of the treatment, Tasmar should be discontinued.
- The dose should only be increased to the higher dose (200 mg three times a day) if the increase in how your Parkinson’s disease symptoms are controlled outweighs the expected increase in side effects.
- The side effects at the higher dose can often be severe and affect your liver.
- If you do not get better at the higher dose after a total of 3 weeks, your doctor should stop your treatment with Tasmar.
Could it interact with other tablets?
Please inform your doctor about all other medicines you are taking especially:
- antidepressants
- alphamethyldopa (antihypertensive)
- apomorphine (used for Parkinson’s disease)
- dobutamine (used in the management of congestive heart failure)
- adrenaline (used for heart attacks)
- isoprenaline (used for heart attacks)
When you are taking Tasmar with anticoagulants (that prevent blood clotting) of the warfarin type, your doctor may perform regular blood tests to monitor how easily the blood clots. If you go to hospital or if you are prescribed a new medicine, you must tell your doctor that you are taking Tasmar. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, even those not prescribed.
Herbal preparations should also only be taken after consulting with doctor or pharmacist.
What are the possible risks or side-effects?
Like all medicines, Tasmar can have side effects. Tell your doctor or a pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Tasmar.
The unwanted effects that are most likely to occur are:
- dyskinesia (involuntary movement)
- nausea
- sleeping problems
- decreased appetite
- diarrhoea
- fainting
- feeling lightheaded when you stand
- constipation and hallucination
Disturbances in the way the liver works, sometimes severe hepatitis, have been observed. Therefore, if you experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weakness, fever, darkening of urine or jaundice you should contact your doctor immediately.
Soon after beginning and during your treatment with Tasmar, you may have symptoms caused by levodopa such as dyskinesia (involuntary movement) and nausea. Therefore, if you feel unwell, you should contact your doctor since you may need to have your levodopa dose changed.
Contact your doctor if you develop persistent or severe diarrhoea.
This medicine can cause a harmless yellow urine discoloration. However if you notice a darkening of your urine this could be a sign of muscle injury or liver injury, please inform your doctor.
Very rarely, patients develop Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (severe symptoms of muscle stiffening, fever or mental confusion) when antiparkinsonian treatments are abruptly reduced or withdrawn.
If you notice any side effects not mentioned here, please inform your doctor or pharmacist.
Can I drink alcohol while taking it?
- There are no known interactions between alcohol and Tasmar.
- Always ask your pharmacist/doctor however as other tablets you are taking may have a bearing on whether you can drink alcohol or not.
What if I’m pregnant/breastfeeding?
You must tell your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of taking Tasmar during pregnancy.
The effects of Tasmar have not been studied in infants. You should not breast-feed your infant during treatment with Tasmar.
If you have any more questions please ask your Pharmacist.
Remember to keep all medicines out of reach of children
Please Note: We have made every effort to ensure that the content of this information sheet is correct at time of publish, but remember that information about drugs may change. This sheet does not list all the uses and side-effects associated with this drug. For full details please see the drug information leaflet which comes with your medicine. Your doctor will assess your medical circumstances and draw your attention to any information or side-effects which may be relevant in your particular case.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolcapone
http://www.rxlist.com/tasmar-drug.htm
http://www.drugs.com/cdi/tasmar.html
http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/index.jsp?curl=pages/medicines/human/medicines/000132/human_med_001080.jsp&mid=WC0b01ac058001d124
https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/medicine/15900