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OPICAPONE (oh PI ca pone) treats the symptoms of Parkinson disease in people who are taking Carbidopa; Levodopa. It works by increasing the amount of dopamine in your brain, a substance which helps manage body movements and coordination. This reduces the symptoms of Parkinson, such as body stiffness and tremors.
This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.
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Take this medication by mouth with a glass of water. Take it as directed on the prescription label. Take this medication on an empty stomach. Do not eat for 1 hour before and for at least 1 hour after taking this medication. Keep taking it unless your care team tells you to stop.
Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. Special care may be needed.
Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.
NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.
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Do not take this medication with any of the following:
-MAOIs, such as Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate
This medication may also interact with the following:
-Alcohol
-Antihistamines for allergy, cough, and cold
-Certain medications for anxiety or sleep
-Certain medications for depression, such as amitriptyline, fluoxetine, sertraline
-Certain medications for seizures, such as phenobarbital, primidone
-Dobutamine
-Dopamine
-Epinephrine
-General anesthetics, such as halothane, isoflurane, methoxyflurane, propofol
-Isoproterenol
-Medications that relax muscles for surgery
-Norepinephrine
-Opioid medications for pain
-Phenothiazine, such as chlorpromazine, mesoridazine, prochlorperazine, thioridazine
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
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Visit your care team for regular checks on your progress. Tell your care team if your symptoms do not start to get better or if they get worse.
Do not suddenly stop taking this medication. You may develop a severe reaction. Your care team will tell you how much medication to take. If your care team wants you to stop this medication, the dose may be slowly lowered over time to avoid any side effects.
This medication may affect your coordination, reaction time, or judgement. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you. Sit up or stand slowly to reduce the risk of dizzy fainting spells. Drinking alcohol with this medication can increase the risk of these side effects.
When taking this medication, you may fall asleep without notice. You may be doing activities, such as driving a car, talking, or eating. You may not feel drowsy before it happens. Contact your care team right away if this happens to you.
There have been reports of increased sexual urges or other strong urges, such as gambling while taking this medication. If you experience any of these while taking this medication, you should report this to your care team as soon as possible.
Your mouth may get dry. Chewing sugarless gum or sucking hard candy and drinking plenty of water may help. Contact your care team if the problem does not go away or is severe.
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If you miss a dose, skip it. Take your next dose at the normal time. Do not take extra or 2 doses at the same time to make up for the missed dose.
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Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:
-Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
-Falling asleep during daily activities
-Hallucinations
-Low blood pressure—dizziness, feeling faint or lightheaded, blurry vision
-Mood swings, irritability, hostility
-New or worsening uncontrolled and repetitive movements of the face, mouth, or upper body
-Urges to engage in impulsive behaviors such as gambling, binge eating, sexual activity, or shopping in ways that are unusual for you
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):
-Constipation
-Dizziness
-Dry mouth
-Trouble sleeping
This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Keep out of the reach of children and pets.
Store at room temperature below 30 degrees C (86 degrees F). Get rid of any unused medication after the expiration date.
To get rid of medications that are no longer needed or have expired:
-Take the medication to a take-back program. Check with your pharmacy or law enforcement to find a location.
-If you cannot return the medication, check the label or package insert to see if the medication should be thrown out in the garbage or flushed down the toilet. If you are not sure, ask your care team. If it is safe to put it in the trash, empty the medication out of the container. Mix the medication with cat litter, dirt, coffee grounds, or other unwanted substance. Seal the mixture in a bag or container. Put it in the trash.
NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.
DISCLAIMER: This drug information content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Patients should always consult their physician with any questions regarding a medical condition and to obtain medical advice and treatment. Drug information is sourced from GSDD (Gold Standard Drug Database ) provided by Elsevier.
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