Re: TASMAR

["Hilton, Carole" <chilton@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Dear Mary and Sonia,  =20

Tasmar is the brand name for the drug Tolcapone.  I have pasted in a
portion of an article written by Dr. Matt Kurth of the Barrow
Neurological Institute that discusses this drug....Carole

>Hello, Sonia --
>
>I wondered what TASMAR could be!

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>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-methyltransferase
>(COMT) involved in the metabolism of levodopa and dopamine.  Inhibition =
of
>this enzyme in the body decreases the concentration of a levodopa
>metabolite, 3-O-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=D2, Hoffmann-LaRoche)=20
>
>       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.
>
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>