Opicapone

Generic name: Opicapone
Brand names: Ongentys
Dosage form: oral capsule (25 mg; 50 mg)
Drug class: Dopaminergic antiparkinsonism agents

Usage of Opicapone

Opicapone is used together with Carbidopa and levodopa to treat symptoms of "off" episodes (stiffness, tremors, muscle spasms, poor muscle control) in people with Parkinson's disease.

Opicapone may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Opicapone side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Opicapone may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

confusion, hallucinations (hearing or seeing something that is not there);

aggression, agitation, unusual thoughts or behavior;

uncontrolled muscle movements in your face (chewing, lip smacking, frowning, tongue movement, blinking or eye movement); or

worsening tremors, stiffness, or muscle spasms.

You may have increased sexual urges, unusual urges to gamble, or other intense urges while taking opicapone. Talk with your doctor if this occurs.

Common side effects of opicapone may include:

feeling light-headed;

uncontrolled muscle movement;

abnormal blood tests;

constipation; or

weight loss.

When you stop taking opicapone, watch for withdrawal symptoms such as: stiff muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, or feeling like you might pass out.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Opicapone

You should not use opicapone if you are allergic to it, or if you have a certain type of tumor that secretes hormones, such as:

pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland); or

paraganglioma (tumor of the nerve cells).

Do not use opicapone if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. A dangerous drug interaction could occur. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, and tranylcypromine.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

a sleep disorder that causes daytime sleepiness;

narcolepsy or other conditions that cause sudden sleepiness;

uncontrolled muscle movements;

unusual and intense urges to act on impulse (such as gambling, binge-eating, or compulsive shopping);

mental illness, hallucinations, or psychosis;

liver disease; or

kidney disease.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Relate drugs

How to use Opicapone

Usual Adult Dose for Parkinson's Disease:

50 mg orally once a day at bedtimeUse: As adjunctive treatment to levodopa/carbidopa in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) experiencing "off" episodes

Warnings

Use only as directed. Tell your doctor if you use other medicines or have other medical conditions or allergies.

What other drugs will affect Opicapone

Using opicapone with other drugs that make you drowsy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

dobutamine;

dopamine;

epinephrine, norepinephrine; or

isoproterenol.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect opicapone, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.