Ongentys (Opicapone)

Ongentys (opicapone) is a prescription medicine that inhibits the enzyme catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT). COMT is involved in the degradation of certian neurotransmitters such as dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. Ongentys is used together with carbidopa and levodopa to treat symptoms of off episodes (stiffness, tremors, muscle spasms, poor muscle control) in people with Parkinson's disease. It is not known if Ongentys is safe and effective in children.

Directions

Take Ongentys exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. When you start or stop taking Ongentys, your doctor may need to adjust the doses of any other medicines you take for Parkinson's disease. Ongentys is usually taken at bedtime. Follow your doctor's dosing instructions very carefully. Take Ongentys on an empty stomach. Do not eat for at least 1 hour before or 1 hour after taking this medicine. Your blood pressure may need to be checked often. Ongentys may cause you to fall asleep during normal daytime activities such as working, talking, eating, or driving. You may fall asleep suddenly, even after feeling alert. Tell your doctor if you have any problems with daytime sleepiness or drowsiness. Do not change your doses or stop using any of your medicines without your doctor's advice. Tell your doctor if any of your medicines seem to stop working. Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Cautions

You should not use Ongentys if you are allergic to opicapone, or if you have a certain type of tumor that secretes hormones, such as: pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland); or paraganglioma (tumor of the nerve cells). To make sure Ongentys is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had: a sleep disorder that causes daytime sleepiness; narcolepsy or other conditions that cause sudden sleepiness; uncontrolled muscle movements; unusual and intense urges to act on impulse (such as gambling, binge-eating, or compulsive shopping); mental illness, hallucinations, or psychosis; liver disease; or kidney disease. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.