Ongentys tablets 25 mg for Parkinson’s disease (opicapone)

What are Ongentys tablets 25 mg for Parkinson's Disease (opicapone)?

An active principel of Ongentys tablets is opicapone, a reversible and strictly peripheral third-generation catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor. It works by suppressing the activity of levodopa-degrading enzymes. Ongentys tablets should be combined with levodopa/carbidopa and levodopa/benserazide hydrochloride medicines to increase the level of available levodopa in the brain and dopamine level. By enhancing the levodopa effect, Ongentys tablets improves the movement speed, stiffness, and circadian changes in patients Parkinson's syndrome. 

Opicapone's action lasts longer than 24 hours, allowing to use it only once a day. Furthermore, Ongentys tablets have the lowest risk for cytotoxicity in comparison with other catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitors.

Active principles: opicapone

Amount: 30 tablets

Maker: Ono Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Osaka, Japan

Indications:

improving circadian change (wearing-off phenomenon), stiffness and slowness of movement in patients with Parkinson’s disease (in combination with other antiparkinsonian medications)

How to take

Adults should take 1 tablet a day before or after levodopa/carbidopa or levodopa/benserazide hydrochloride medication. The time of intake of this medicine should be at least 1 hour before or after meal. Do not take this medicine directly before or after meal. 

Unless your doctor tells you otherwise, do not abruptly stop taking these tablets.

Contraindications: do not use for the following patients:

• breastfeeding and pregnant women,
• patients with pheochromocytoma, paraganglioma or another catecholamine-secreting tumor,
• patients with a history of malignant syndrome or non-traumatic rhabdomyolysis.
• patients with liver dysfunction.

Important information

These tablets may cause sudden sleepiness or dizziness. Patient should avoid driving a car, working at heights or operating dangerous machinery. Patient should pay close attention to the risks of bone fracture or injury due to possible falling.

If an allergic reaction occurs, patient needs to stop using the medicine and consult with their doctor. If patient is taking any other medication or treatment, they should consult with their doctor in advance.