Key takeaways
Entacapone (Comtan) and Rasagiline (Azilect) are both used to treat Parkinson's disease (PD), but they work differently and have distinct uses. Entacapone is a COMT inhibitor that must be taken with carbidopa/levodopa to help these medications last longer in your body, while Rasagiline is a MAO-B inhibitor that can be taken alone or with other PD medications to increase dopamine levels in your brain. Entacapone needs to be taken multiple times a day with each dose of carbidopa/levodopa, whereas Rasagiline is taken once daily. Entacapone can cause side effects like involuntary movements and nausea, while Rasagiline can lead to serotonin syndrome if taken with certain medications and requires you to avoid foods high in tyramine. Both medications can make you very sleepy and cause low blood pressure, but Rasagiline is also known for causing high blood pressure if you eat tyramine-rich foods. Rasagiline and Entacapone are available as both a brand-name and generic medication.
