At 11:19 PM 9/28/98 EDT, Bruce Jones, wrote in error when he stated:
>Tolcapone more commonly referred to as Tasmar is an agonist, much like
>Sinemet.
Bruce you are mistaken. Sinemet is NOT an agonist and Tolcapone is not an
agonist.
Tolcapone (Tasmar) is a COMT inhibitor and is not an agonist. Tasmar is used
in conjunction with Sinemet, never alone. When levodopa is administered in
combination with a COMT inhibitor such as Tasmar more levodopa reaches the
brain and delivery is smoother. COMT inhibitors increase the effect of
levodopa in both fluctuating and non fluctuating PD patients.
The most common side effect of Tasmar is dyskinesia and can be controlled
bya 20-30% reduction in Sinemet. Another common side effect of Tasmar is
severe diarrhea. PWP taking Tasmar should undergo a liver function test once
a month for three months
and then once every six weeks for three months.
__________
Sid Roberts 68/3 <[log in to unmask] > Youngstown, Ohio
