What is Opicapone?
Opicapone can be used in conjunction with Carbidopa or Levodopa for the treatment of symptoms associated with "off" episodes, such as stiffness, tremors, and muscle spasms.This medication guide does not list all possible uses of opicapone.
Side effects of Opicapone
If you experience any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction, seek immediate medical attention: hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips, or throat.
Opicapone can cause serious side effects. If you experience:
- A feeling of lightheadedness, as if you could pass out.
- Hallucinations, confusion (hearing something or seeing something you don't hear);
- Aggression, unusual behavior, or thoughts;
- Uncontrolled facial muscle movements (chewing, lip smacking, frowning, tongue movement, blinking, or eye movement);
- Worsening stiffness or muscle spasms.
While taking opicapone, you may experience increased sexual desire, urges to gamble, or other intense desires. If this happens, talk to your doctor.
Opicapone can cause the following side effects:
- Feeling light-headed
- Uncontrolled muscle movements
- Blood tests that are abnormal
- Constipation
- Weight loss.
If you suddenly stop taking opicapone, you may experience withdrawal symptoms such as stiffness, a high temperature, or sweating. You may also feel confused, have fast or irregular heartbeats, or feel like you could pass out.
There may be other side effects. For medical advice on side effects, call your doctor. The FDA can be contacted at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report side effects.
Warnings
Do not use it other than as directed. Inform your doctor of any other medications you are taking or if you have allergies or other medical conditions.
Before you take this drug
If you have a secreting tumour, you should avoid using opicapone.
- Pheochromocytoma
- Paraganglioma
If you've used an MAO inhibitor in the last 14 days, do not take opicapone. A dangerous drug interaction may occur. MAO inhibitors are isocarboxazid (linezolid), methylene blue injection, phenelzine, and tranylcypromine.
Inform your doctor of any of the following conditions:
- A sleep disorder causing daytime sleepiness.
- Narcolepsy and other conditions that cause sudden sleepiness
- Uncontrolled muscle movements
- Unusual and intense urges for impulsive behavior (such as binge eating, compulsive buying, or gambling);
- Mental illness, hallucinations, or psychosis.
- Liver disease
- Kidney disease is a serious condition.
Inform your doctor if you are pregnant or nursing.
How to take Opicapone?
If you stop or start taking opicapone, your doctor may have to adjust any other Parkinson's medications you are taking.Read all instructions or guides that come with your medication and follow all directions. Follow the directions on the label.Opicapone should be taken before bedtime on an empty stomach.Eat nothing for 1 hour prior to or after taking opicapone.You may need to check your blood pressure often.
You may fall asleep while doing normal activities during the day, such as driving, working, eating, or talking. Even though you feel alert, you may suddenly fall asleep. You should tell your doctor if there are any issues with daytime sleepiness or drowsiness.You should not stop taking any medicine or change the dose without consulting your doctor. Inform your doctor if your medicine seems to be failing.Store away from heat and moisture at room temperature.
Details on dosage
Adult dosage for Parkinson's disease:
Take 50 mg at night.
Use: As an adjunctive treatment for Parkinson's disease (PD) patients experiencing "off" symptoms.
What happens if I miss the dose?
Do not take the missed dose. Use the next dose at night. Do not take two doses at the same time.
What happens if I overdose?
Call 1-800-222-1222 for poison help or seek immediate medical attention.
What should be avoided?
Do not drive or engage in hazardous activities until you have a better understanding of how opicapone affects you. Dizziness and drowsiness may cause accidents or serious injuries.
Interaction with other drug
Ask your doctor before taking an opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for a data-type="auto" href="https://www.drugs.com/cg/anxiety.html">anxiety/a> or if you have seizures. Before taking an opioid, sleeping pill, muscle relaxer, or medicine to treat anxiety or seizures, consult your doctor.
Tell your doctor if you are taking any other medications, including:
- Dobutamine;
- Dopamine;
- Norepinephrine or epinephrine
- Isoproterenol.
This list is incomplete. Other drugs, such as vitamins and herbs, may also affect opicapone. This list does not include all possible drug interactions.
