Tasmar

Tolcapone

(TOLE ka pone)

Tasmar

This drug may cause severe and sometimes deadly liver problems. Do not start taking this drug if you have liver disease or raised liver enzymes. If your signs do not get better within 3 weeks of starting this drug, talk with your doctor. Blood tests will be done before you start taking this drug and during treatment to watch for any liver problems. If you had liver changes from this drug in the past, do not use this drug again. Call your doctor right away if you have signs of liver problems like dark urine, feeling tired, not hungry, upset stomach or stomach pain, light-colored stools, throwing up, or yellow skin or eyes. Most of the time, this drug is only for use when certain other drugs cannot be used or have not worked. Talk with your doctor to be sure that the benefits of this drug are more than the risks.

It is used to treat Parkinson's disease.

If you have an allergy to tolcapone or any other part of this drug. If you are allergic to this drug; any part of this drug; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had. If you have had a certain muscle problem (rhabdomyolysis) or fever and confusion when taking drugs in the past. If you are taking any of these drugs: Isocarboxazid, phenelzine, or tranylcypromine. This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this drug. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take this drug with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

Tell all of your health care providers that you take this drug. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists. You must be given info and sign a consent form to use this drug. Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert until you see how this drug affects you. To lower the chance of feeling dizzy or passing out, rise slowly if you have been sitting or lying down. Be careful going up and down stairs. Have blood work checked as you have been told by the doctor. Talk with the doctor. Talk with your doctor before you drink alcohol or use other drugs and natural products that slow your actions. Some people have fallen asleep during activities like driving, eating, or talking. Some people did not feel sleepy and felt alert right before falling asleep. This has happened up to 1 year after this drug was started. If you fall asleep during activities, do not drive or do other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert while you take this drug. Call your doctor right away if this happens or you feel very sleepy. The chance of a type of skin cancer called melanoma may be raised in people with Parkinson's disease. It is not known if this drug may also raise the chance. Have skin exams while you take this drug. Talk with your doctor. A certain muscle problem (rhabdomyolysis) has happened with this drug. Rarely, this has led to organ problems and death. Do not stop taking this drug all of a sudden without calling your doctor. You may have a greater risk of side effects. If you need to stop this drug, you will want to slowly stop it as ordered by your doctor. If you are 75 or older, use this drug with care. You could have more side effects. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan on getting pregnant, or are breast-feeding. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks to you and the baby.

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect: Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat. Signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI) like blood in the urine, burning or pain when passing urine, feeling the need to pass urine often or right away, fever, lower stomach pain, or pelvic pain. Feeling confused. Very bad dizziness or passing out. Mental, mood, or behavior changes that are new or worse. Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there). Muscle pain or weakness, dark urine, or trouble passing urine. Strong urges that are hard to control (such as eating, gambling, sex, or spending money). A skin lump or growth. Change in color or size of a mole. Trouble controlling body movements that is new or worse. Bad dreams.

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away: Feeling dizzy, sleepy, tired, or weak. Headache. Sweating a lot. Trouble sleeping. Constipation, diarrhea, stomach pain, upset stomach, throwing up, or feeling less hungry. Change in urine color. Signs of a common cold. Dry mouth. These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Use this drug as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely. Take with or without food. Keep taking this drug as you have been told by your doctor or other health care provider, even if you feel well.

Take a missed dose as soon as you think about it. If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time. Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.

Store at room temperature. Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom. Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets. Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

If your symptoms or health problems do not get better or if they become worse, call your doctor. Do not share your drugs with others and do not take anyone else's drugs. Some drugs may have another patient information leaflet. Check with your pharmacist. If you have any questions about this drug, please talk with your doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or other health care provider. If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

This information should not be used to decide whether or not to take this medicine or any other medicine. Only the healthcare provider has the knowledge and training to decide which medicines are right for a specific patient. This information does not endorse any medicine as safe, effective, or approved for treating any patient or health condition. This is only a brief summary of general information about this medicine. It does NOT include all information about the possible uses, directions, warnings, precautions, interactions, adverse effects, or risks that may apply to this medicine. This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from the healthcare provider. You must talk with the healthcare provider for complete information about the risks and benefits of using this medicine.