Tasmar Medication - Uses & Side Effects

Generic Name: Tolcapone

TOLCAPONE (Tasmar®) is used in combination with levodopa-carbidopa (Sinemet® or others) to treat Parkinson's disease. Tolcapone prevents the breakdown of a chemical in your brain known as dopamine (DO pa meen). It also helps other medicines work better in raising the levels of dopamine in your body. Low levels of dopamine are associated with Parkinson's disease.

Tasmar Dosage

The usual dose is 100 milligrams 3 times daily (every 6 hours). Take no more than a total of 300 milligrams a day unless prescribed by your doctor.

Uses of Tasmar

• Tolcapone is used together with other medicines to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease including such as muscle stiffness, tremors, muscle spasms, and poor muscle control. It is used only in combination with carbidopa and levodopa. It is not effective if it is used alone.
• This medication is usually reserved for use only in people who have used carbidopa and levodopa without success in treating their Parkinson's disease.

Side Effects of Tasmar

If you are taking this medication, then discuss the side effects with your doctor. If you feel any change in intensity, then you should tell your doctor. Because only your doctor can determine if it is safe to continue using Tasmar. Side effects may include:

• Abdominal pain
• abnormal muscle movements
• acid indigestion
• breathing difficulty
• chest pain
• confusion
• constipation
• decreased muscle movement
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• dry mouth
• excessive dreaming
• falling
• fatigue
• fainting
• flu
• gas
• hallucination
• headache

Warnings and precautions before taking Tasmar:

• If you are taking Tasmar, then it may cause drowsiness and affect mental and motor skills, So you should avoid operating machinery or driving.
• Tasmar can cause nausea, especially at the start of therapy, and sometimes increases muscle stiffness. Your Parkinson's symptoms may also increase, along with fever and confusion, when the drug is discontinued. Your doctor will adjust your other medications carefully if Tasmar needs to be stopped.
• Especially at the start of therapy, Tasmar can cause severe low blood pressure, marked by nausea, sweating, dizziness, or fainting. To avoid these symptoms, get up very slowly from a seated or reclining position.

Drug Interaction :-

If you are taking certain drugs with Tasmar, then it may decreased, increased or altered the effects of Tasmar medicine. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Tasmar with the following:

• Apomorphine
  
• Desipramine (Norpramin)
  
• Isoproterenol (Isuprel)
  
• MAO inhibitors such as the antidepressants Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate
  
• Methyldopa (Aldomet)
  
• Nervous system depressants such as alcohol and the sedatives phenobarbital and Seconal
  
• Warfarin (Coumadin)

Overdose

When you are taking Tasmar, and you feel that overdose is suspected then contact your doctor immediately. Symptoms of a Tasmar overdose may include:

• Dizziness
• nausea
• vomiting