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>At 12:47 am 07/12/96 -0500, Brian C.Black wrote: >>I have just signed on to the first stage of an experiment with a drug >>called Tolcopone and I would be very greatful for any info on this drug. >>If it's so good, why has it never shown up her on the network? Or has it ? >>What am I getting into? > >Hello Brian, > >I am another of the guinea pigs. I will enter the Tolcapone drug study in >the new year. > >Following is an extract from a recent report that was posted to the list. > > November 1996 > >Up And Coming Medical Therapies for Parkinson's Disease > >by Matthias C. Kurth, MD, Ph.D., Medical Director and Advisor >for Young Parkinsonians and the US NPR YOPPERS FORUM > >Catechol-O-Methyl Transferase Inhibitors > >One new approach to treating Parkinson's disease >involves prolonging the action of levodopa by inhibiting the enzyme >catechol-o-methyl transferase (COMT) involved in the >metabolism of levodopa and dopamine. Inhibition of this >enzyme in the body decreases the concentration of a levodopa >metabolite, 3-0-methyldopa, which may have a role in inducing or >aggravating levodopa response fluctuations. More importantly, >blood levels of levodopa are maintained for a longer time and >patients experience a smoother, more beneficial effect from >each dose of levodopa. > >Tolcapone (Tasmar(r), Hoffman-LaRoche) > > Tolcapone is the most potent COMT inhibitor currently >in clinical development. Studies in patients with Parkinson's >disease in the United States and Europe are complete and have >been submitted to the FDA. Tolcapone prolongs the effects of >levodopa thereby decreasing motor response fluctuations in >patients and improving quality of life. Patients on levodopa that do >not experience motor fluctuations also benefited significantly >through improved quality of life and decreased symptoms. Tolcapone is >given three times daily in doses from 100 mg to 200 mg in >addition to the patient's levodopa medication schedule. Peak >effect of tolcapone is reached in about 1 - 2 hours and maintained for the >duration of the 6 hour dosing interval. Patients experience better >control of their Parkinsonian symptoms while needing lower >doses of levodopa. Side effects are few, but include >occasional mild headache, nausea, loose stools, change in >urine color, and in some patients a transient increase in >dyskinesia. Tolcapone is absorbed by the small intestine and >metabolized by the liver. Food delays the absorption of >tolcapone somewhat, but this does not appear to be clinically >significant. The ability of this compound to prolong blood >and brain levels of levodopa while reducing the levels of >potentially toxic metabolites should be an important >development in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. > >Hope this is of some help. Good luck. > >Judith JUDITH: Thanks, fellow guinea pig for the interesting letter. It reinforces my view that this new drug is one of the most promising on the market to improve our quality of life. Let's hope it works for us! Brian Black