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Ongentys

Generic name: opicaponeoh-PIK-a-pone ]
Drug class: Dopaminergic antiparkinsonism agents

Medically reviewed by Judith Stewart, BPharm. Last updated on Aug 22, 2023.

What is Ongentys?

Ongentys 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.

Warnings

Do not use Ongentys if you have used an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, tranylcypromine and others.

Do not use Ongentys if you have a tumor that secretes hormones known as catecholamines. These tumors include pheochromocytoma (a type of adrenal gland tumor) and paraganglioma.

Before taking this medicine

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:

To make sure Ongentys is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

How should I take Ongentys?

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.

Dosing information

Usual Adult Dose for Parkinson's Disease:

50 mg orally once a day at bedtime

Use: As adjunctive treatment to levodopa/carbidopa in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) experiencing "off" episodes

What happens if I miss a dose?

Skip the missed dose and use your next dose the following night. Do not use two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What to avoid

Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you. Dizziness or drowsiness can cause falls, accidents, or severe injuries.

Ongentys side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Ongentys: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

You may have increased sexual urges, unusual urges to gamble, or other intense urges while taking this medicine. Talk with your doctor if this occurs.

Common Ongentys side effects may include:

When you stop taking Ongentys, watch for withdrawal symptoms such as: stiff muscles, high fever, sweating, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeats, tremors, or feeling like you might pass out.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Ongentys?

Using Ongentys with other drugs that make you drowsy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with opicapone, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Popular FAQ

The recommended time to take Ongentys (opicapone) is once daily at bedtime and at least one hour after food. Eating is also not recommended for an hour of taking Ongentys.

By taking Ongentys at night or at least one hour apart from levodopa, the amount of levodopa available after a dose is increased, but any interaction between the two drugs during the levodopa absorption phase is avoided. Taking Ongentys at night means that there’s greater flexibility to adjust when levodopa is taken during the day, without the need to consider potential absorption interactions. Continue reading

Ongentys starts working within one week of starting treatment and the full effects are seen within two to three weeks of starting treatment. Continue reading

Ongentys is better than Comtan according to the results of clinical trials. Ongentys is better at preventing early-morning off symptoms. Patients treated with Ongentys also take less time than those treated with Comtan to achieve on-status following their first dose of levodopa in the morning. In addition, Ongentys is better across a range of measures in people with Parkinson’s disease who have recently started experiencing fluctuating motor symptoms. Ongentys also only needs to be taken once daily, while Comtan needs to be taken up to eight times a day. Continue reading

Further information

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Ongentys only for the indication prescribed.

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.