Best time to take opicapone

The recommended time to take opicapone is once daily before bed and at least one hour after a meal. It is also not recommended to eat within one hour of taking Opicapone. Opicapone, available in capsule form, is aCOMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase) inhibitor used as an add-on (adjuvant) treatment to levodopa/carbidopa in patients with Parkinson's disease who experience "off" episodes.

Opicapone works by increasing the amount of levodopa that reaches the brain, prolonging the time it is effective. Opicapone does this by blocking the COMT enzyme that breaks down levodopa in the blood. After a moderate-fat/moderate-caloric meal, the mean peak plasma concentration (Cmax) of opicapone decreased by 62%, the mean total plasma exposure (AUC) decreased by 31%, and Tmax was delayed by 4 hours. In Clinical Study 1, Opicapone was administered without regard to food, and in Clinical Study 2, Opicapone administration and food consumption were separated by 1 hour. The average elimination half-life of opicapone is 1 to 2 hours. Taking levodopa at night means greater flexibility when taking levodopa during the day without having to consider potential absorption interactions.

Opicapone has not yet been launched in the country, so it is not covered by medical insurance. The European version of Opicapone’s original drug specifications listed overseasThe price per box of 50mg*90 capsules is around RMB 6,000 (the price may fluctuate due to the exchange rate). There is currently no generic version of Opicapone on the market. For more drug information and specific prices, please consult Yaode’s medical consultant.