entacapone vs tranylcypromine
Side-by-side comparison of entacapone and tranylcypromine. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
moderate Known Drug Interaction
Product Clinical Comment on Concomitant Use [See Contraindications (4.1)] ; Predominant Effect/Risk [Hypertensive Reaction (HR) [See Warnings and Precautions (5.3)] ; or Serotonin Syndrome (SS) [See Warnings and Precautions (5.7)] ] Altretamine Use with caution If not otherwise specified in this table, consider avoiding concomitant use (see also information on medication-free intervals , use agent at the lowest appropriate dose, monitor for effects of the interaction, advise the patient to report potential effects, and be prepared to discontinue the agent and treat effects of the...
Recommendation: Use this combination with extreme caution and at the lowest doses possible. Tell your doctor right away if you experience a severe headache, fast heartbeat, or sudden changes in your mood.
Comtan
Parnate
Entacapone is a medicine that helps people with Parkinson's disease. It is always used with levodopa and carbidopa to help reduce "wearing-off" symptoms.
Tranylcypromine (Parnate) is a medicine used to treat major depression in adults. It is used when other antidepressants have not worked well enough.
Entacapone is used to treat Parkinson's disease. It helps when your medicine (levodopa and carbidopa) starts to wear off before your next dose. This medicine is not for people with Parkinson's who do not have "wearing-off" symptoms.
Tranylcypromine is used to treat major depressive disorder (MDD) in adults. You should only use it if other antidepressants haven't helped. It is not for the first treatment of depression because it can cause serious side effects and has many drug and food interactions.
Entacapone belongs to a class of drugs called COMT inhibitors. It works by blocking an enzyme called COMT, which breaks down levodopa in the body. By blocking COMT, entacapone helps levodopa work longer and more effectively.
Tranylcypromine belongs to a class of drugs called MAO inhibitors. It works by increasing the levels of certain chemicals in your brain. These chemicals can help improve your mood.
- • Uncontrolled movements
- • Urine discoloration
- • Diarrhea
- • Nausea
- • Excessive movements
- • Dry mouth
- • Dizziness
- • Trouble sleeping
- • Feeling sleepy
- • Headache
- Uncontrolled movements 461
- Seeing or hearing things that are not there 459
- Falling down 443
- Death 318
- Parkinson's disease 274
- Interaction between medicines 68
- Feeling sad or hopeless 36
- Too much serotonin in the body 27
- Head pain 24
- High blood pressure 24
If you suddenly stop taking entacapone or quickly lower the dose, your Parkinson's symptoms may get worse. This could also cause a high fever and confusion. If you stop taking entacapone, your doctor should watch you closely and adjust your other medicines as needed. It is best to slowly lower the dose before stopping completely.
Tranylcypromine can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young adults. It can also cause a dangerous increase in blood pressure if you eat foods high in tyramine or take certain medicines. Make sure to follow all food and drug restrictions.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if entacapone will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking entacapone while breastfeeding.
There is limited information about the safety of tranylcypromine during pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not recommended to breastfeed while taking this medicine because it can harm the baby.
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How to Read This entacapone vs tranylcypromine Comparison
entacapone is classified in the COMT Inhibitor drug class, while tranylcypromine sits within the Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitor (MAOI) class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, entacapone has 1,955 submissions while tranylcypromine has 179. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known moderate interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to using these medications together can cause a sudden, dangerous increase in blood pressure or a serious brain chemical imbalance. both drugs affect how the body breaks down certain chemicals, leading to a risky buildup.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between entacapone and tranylcypromine - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.