Comtan Side Effects (Cont.)

Serious Comtan Side Effects

Some side effects with Comtan are potentially serious and should be reported immediately to your healthcare provider. Although most of these serious side effects are rare, a few may be common. Many of these side effects have occurred with carbidopa-levodopa products, which have been available for a long time, and are expected to also be a problem with Comtan, since it is always taken with carbidopa-levodopa and since Comtan increases the level of levodopa in the blood. These serious side effects of Comtan (plus carbidopa-levodopa) include but are not limited to:
 
  • Severe diarrhea
  • Severe muscle pain
  • Symptoms of neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS), which may occur if Comtan is stopped too abruptly, such as:
 
    • A high fever
    • Stiff muscles
    • Confusion
    • Irregular pulse or blood pressure
    • A fast heart rate (tachycardia)
    • Sweating
    • Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias)
 
 
    • Hallucinations
    • Delusions
    • Paranoia
    • Agitation
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Suicidal thoughts or behaviors
 
  • Intestinal ulcers (known as duodenal ulcers)
  • Low white blood cell, red blood cell, or blood platelet counts 
  • Seizures
  • Heart attack
  • Malignant melanoma (a type of skin cancer)
  • A painful penile erection that does not go away (known as priapism)
  • Falling or balance problems  
  • Signs of an allergic reaction, including:
 
    • An unexplained rash
    • Hives
    • Itching
    • Swelling of the mouth or throat
    • Wheezing
    • Difficulty breathing.
 
(Comtan Side Effects Continued: Page 3)

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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;