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Entacapone vs. Bromocriptine

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.

Key takeaways

Entacapone (Comtan) and Bromocriptine (Parlodel) are both used to treat Parkinson's disease, but they work in different ways and have other uses as well. Entacapone is a COMT inhibitor that helps increase the effectiveness of carbidopa/levodopa by preventing its breakdown, which helps relieve symptoms like shakiness and slowed movement. You need to take it with each dose of carbidopa/levodopa. Bromocriptine, on the other hand, is a dopamine agonist that activates dopamine receptors to improve movement in Parkinson's disease. It is also used to treat high prolactin levels and acromegaly. Bromocriptine can be taken once or twice a day with meals, and it has a broader range of uses compared to Entacapone. Common side effects of Entacapone include involuntary movements and nausea, while Bromocriptine often causes nausea, dizziness, and constipation. Both medications can cause sleepiness and changes in blood pressure, but Bromocriptine has additional risks like high blood pressure and fluid around the heart or lungs.

Entacapone

(Comtan)

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Bromocriptine

(Parlodel)

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Summary for Entacapone

Prescription only

Entacapone (Comtan) is used for Parkinson's disease (PD) and helps relieve symptoms like shakiness and slowed movement. It's used along with the combination medication carbidopa/levodopa. Entacapone (Comtan) is a good option for people whose levodopa wears off before their next dose ("wearing-off" periods). But, this medication has to be taken every time you take carbidopa/levodopa for it to work properly. Some side effects include involuntary movements (dyskinesia) and nausea. Entacapone (Comtan) is available as a brand-name and generic medication.

Indications for Entacapone

  • Relief of "wearing-off" symptoms in people with Parkinson's disease who are taking carbidopa/levodopa medications (e.g., Sinemet, Rytary)

Pros and Cons for Entacapone

Pros

  • Helps carbidopa/levodopa relieve your PD symptoms better
  • Can be useful for people with advanced PD or people who experience "wearing-off" periods with their carbidopa/levodopa
  • Can take with or without food

Cons

  • Must take with every dose of carbidopa/levodopa to see an effect on PD symptoms; it has no effect when it's taken alone
  • Can cause involuntary movements or other movement problems
  • Can cause nausea, especially when you first start taking the medication

Common Side Effects for Entacapone

  • Involuntary movements (dyskinesia, 25%)
  • Nausea (14%)
  • Muscle spasms (hyperkinesia, 10%)
  • Changes in the color of your urine (10%)
  • Diarrhea (10%)
  • Slowed muscle movements (hypokinesia, 9%)
  • Stomach pain (8%)
  • Dizziness (8%)

Warnings for Entacapone

  • Sleepiness or falling asleep while doing daily activities
  • Low blood pressure and fainting
  • Hallucinations and changes in behavior and thoughts
  • Difficulty controlling impulsive behavior
  • Diarrhea and inflamed colon (colitis)
  • Muscle damage (rhabdomyolysis)
  • High fevers and confusion
  • Interactions with other medications

Summary for Bromocriptine

Prescription only

Bromocriptine (Parlodel) is used to treat conditions associated with high prolactin levels, as well as Parkinson's disease and acromegaly (too much growth hormone). This medication is available as a generic or brand name (Parlodel). Nausea, constipation, and dizziness are common side effects of bromocriptine (Parlodel). While there's limited information available, reports suggest that bromocriptine (Parlodel) doesn't seem to raise the risk for birth defects if taken by mothers during pregnancy.

Indications for Bromocriptine

Pros and Cons for Bromocriptine

Pros

  • Can treat many different conditions
  • Only needs to be taken once or twice a day
  • Available as a lower-cost generic
  • Dose can be adjusted based on your response

Cons

  • Commonly causes nausea as a side effect
  • Can cause changes in blood pressure
  • Only comes as a 2.5 mg tablet or 5 mg capsule, so you might need to take a lot of pills if you're taking a high dose
  • Should be taken with food

Common Side Effects for Bromocriptine

  • Nausea (up to 49%)
  • Headache (19%)
  • Dizziness (17%)
  • Constipation (up to 14%)
  • Tiredness (up to 7%)
  • Low blood pressure when you stand up (orthostatic hypotension, up to 6%)
  • Feeling lightheaded (up to 5%)
  • Vomiting (up to 5%)

Warnings for Bromocriptine

  • Use during pregnancy and after giving birth
  • Sleepiness or falling asleep during activities
  • Changes in blood pressure
  • Impulsive behavior
  • Fluid around the heart or lungs
  • Blood flow problems

Prices with our coupons for Entacapone vs. Bromocriptine

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Entacapone360 tablets / 200mg
$98.32$1,339.93
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Bromocriptine90 tablets / 2.5mg
$78.20$145.57
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