Tasmar (Tolcapone) for Parkinson's Disease

Overview
Tasmar is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998. Tasmar is prescribed as an adjunct (add-on) drug to levodopa/carbidopa if the latter drugs begin to lose effectiveness in treating motor symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. Tasmar is also known by its drug name, tolcapone.

Tasmar is a member of a class of drugs known as COMT inhibitors. Tasmar inhibits the action of a molecule called catechol-O-methyltransferase, which converts levodopa into an ineffective form. Tasmar is believed to work by increasing the amount of levodopa that reaches the brain, making levodopa effective at significantly lower doses.

Some medications are available both as generic and branded products. Although generic and branded formulations of a drug contain the same active ingredients at the same concentrations, your body may react differently to different formulations. Check with your doctor before switching between drug brands or between generic and branded drugs.

How do I take it?
Your doctor will order blood tests to check your liver function before you begin taking Tasmar and regularly while you continue to take it.

Tasmar is taken orally as a tablet three times a day. Take one whole tablet with each dose; do not split, crush, or chew Tasmar.

Avoid driving or operating machinery until you are certain you understand how Tasmar affects you.

You may experience withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking Tasmar suddenly. If you decide to stop taking Tasmar, ask your doctor for a plan to decrease your dosage gradually.

Always follow your doctor’s instructions exactly when taking Tasmar.

Side effects
Common side effects of Tasmar include abnormal body movements, nausea, diarrhea, weight loss, insomnia, vomiting, urine discoloration, drowsiness, hallucination, involuntary muscle contractions, and sweating.

Tasmar may increase your risk of developing life-threatening liver damage.

Inform your doctor immediately if you experience a fast, pounding heartbeat, fainting, fever, rigid, stiff, or painful muscles, trouble breathing, hallucinations, suicidal thoughts, depression, increased urge to have sex or gamble, stools containing blood or a tarry substance, vomit containing blood or a substance resembling coffee grounds, dark-colored or red urine, fatigue, pale stools, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or pain or tenderness in the abdomen while taking Tasmar.

For more information about this treatment, visit:

Tasmar — RxList
https://www.rxlist.com/tasmar-drug.htm