Comtan (generic:entacapone) really works for me in extending my on-times for carbidopa-levadopa to the point where I am almost symptom free some days. However, I have been paying $300-$400 for it per month because my insurance, and I've been told, most insurance didn't cover it. Well, IT DOES NOW and I'm paying $5 a month at CVS. Thought I'd pass that along. My doctor didn't know about it.
(FYI: I'm male, 58, dx in 2004, take 10 sinemet @ 25/100 and 2.5 comtan @ 200mg in five daily doses, plus selegiine, amantadine, and sinimet er.)
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MichaelOM
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are you referring to Comtan/entacapone separately, as opposed to Stelevo which has them and is also super expensive?
My husband takes Stelevo and the regular cost is in excess of 400 a month, Won't be able to keep using that once he does not have insurance through work anymore.
Sorry, I don't know. And the $5 price I mention is with insurance. I'm sure the no-insurance cost is still huge. I bought one order of entacapone from a Canadian company I found on the internet that shipped from Singapore. Seems to have worked out, but now I don't need to do that anymore. Might be an option for you with Stalevo if you lose your insurance?
Keep forgetting the PD terms, but my PD symptoms have always been mostly stiffness and what goes with that (difficulty walking, driving, writing).
However, I do know I have dykesisia. Funny thing though is that I keep telling people I have dyslexia when I mean dyskenisia. Imagine the looks and comments get. "I didn't now dyslexia made you move funny."
Michael, glad to hear you are doing well! I had taken only Azilect until about 9 months ago, symptoms worsened and the doctor added Sinemet. I had a terrible time with nausea and vomiting until we figured out that I would have to eat with it. I am now doing much better.
Good Susie. Yes, I wanted to put off sinemet because of the bad things I heard, but its been good for me so far, especially since I added comtan (entact apone). Hope you are otherwise well. We should chat on FB soon and catch up.
MichaelOM
I take Levodopa/Carbidopa (same as Sinemet) 25/100 mg 4 x per day and Comtan 200 mg 5 x per day, plus one 200/50 Levodopa/Carbidopa CR & one .5 Clonazepam before bedtime. Recently I am experiencing a great deal of "off time". I realize that I require more Sinemet to feel better. The "off time" is terrible. I also have shortness of breath during this "off time".
Could you tell me how you take your 10 Sinemet's per day, i.e., every 2 hours or? Do you split the tablets? Also how long have you taken 10 Sinemet's per day?
Hi PJ. I take 2 sinemets with 1//2 comtan every three hours during the day. Yes I split the comtans. I think I've been on 10 sinemet a day for at least two years. yum!
Hi Michael, Thank you very much for your response. This is extremely helpful to me. I will be seeing my neuro this week. I know I require more Sinemet added to my regime, but I also considered taking a "drug holiday". At the moment the "off time" is so unpleasant that I simply do not how I could ever consider doing that!
I am also looking ahead into the future and wondering just how much of Sinemet I will need to help control my symptoms as they progress.
I note your posts here and on the breathing problems thread. I too have had marked wearing off and the more levadopa i have taken the more noticable it has become. In particular Entacopone magnified it for me. I was ok on 3x200 a day but by 5/day my shortness of breathe intensified along with other wearing off symptoms.
Are you getting extra help?What are the other meds? My husband is taking Stalevo Same thing,Was paybing over $500.00 a month at CVS but now is getting extra help and paying $37.00 a month which helps but $5.00 would sure help as we get nothing but Social Security.He takes 5 times a day and a 1mg M irapex at night, He has entered final stages of PD and was diagnosed in 2003 but we feel he had it at least 10 years before.
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Does any one taking Comtan?
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Entacapone
