Comtan

Before taking this medicine

The supplied FDA label covers carbidopa, levodopa and entacapone together, not Comtan alone. It lists the following contraindications and cautions for that combination. Do not take the combination if you have narrow-angle glaucoma or are taking a nonselective monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor, such as phenelzine or tranylcypromine. These MAO inhibitors must be discontinued at least two weeks before starting the combination. Warnings include sudden sleep during everyday activities without warning, daytime sleepiness, fainting and low blood pressure, including when standing up. Other risks include new or worsening involuntary movements, depression and suicidal thoughts or behaviour, hallucinations or other psychotic-like behaviour, and impulse-control problems or compulsive behaviour. The label also warns about diarrhoea or drug-induced inflammation of the colon, and serious muscle breakdown (rhabdomyolysis). Abrupt discontinuation may cause a very high fever and confusion. Use during pregnancy may harm the unborn baby, based on animal studies. These warnings relate to at least one of the combination’s ingredients; the supplied extract does not establish which apply specifically to Comtan alone.