A patient with long-standing Parkinson's disease has been prescribed entacapone (Comtan). The patient asks the nurse to describe exactly how this medication works. Which of the following responses is most appropriate?
A) "Entacapone is best given parenterally to relieve symptoms."
B) "Entacapone inhibits COMT so that dopamine is active for a longer time."
C) "It increases the metabolism of levodopa in the bloodstream."
D) "It increases the amount of dopamine that your brain creates."
B
Feedback:
Entacapone is a COMT inhibitor. COMT plays a role in brain metabolism of dopamine. Entacapone is administered orally, not parenterally. Entacapone does not increase the metabolism of dopamine in the bloodstream. It inhibits the metabolism of levodopa in the blood stream. Entacapone is 90% excreted in the biliary tract and feces and 10% in the urine.
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