How long does it take for Ongentys to work?

Medically reviewed by Philip Thornton, DipPharm. Last updated on Sep 13, 2023.

Official answer

by Drugs.com

Ongentys starts working within one week of starting treatment
The full effects of Ongentys are seen within two to three weeks of starting treatment

Ongentys (opicapone) starts working quickly. Results from two large phase III trials showed that within one week of starting treatment with Ongentys it started working and significantly decreased mean off-time by 61 min for those receiving Ongentys 25 mg daily and 75 min for those receiving Ongentys 50 mg daily, compared with 23 min for those receiving placebo (p=0.0013, P<0.0001, respectively).

Further improvements were observed during the second and third week of treatment, after which the treatment effect stabilized. At the end of the 14-15 week study, a significant decrease in off-time of 93 min for Ongentys 25 mg recipients and 120 min of Ongentys 50 mg recipients was observed, compared with a 55 min decrease for placebo recipients (p=0.0091, p<0.001, respectively).

Ongentys is taken once daily at bedtime and is used to help people with Parkinson’s disease who are experiencing ‘off’ episodes (periods of time when their symptoms recur) while being treated with levodopa/carbidopa. It’s a COMT (catechol-O-methyltransferase) inhibitor, which helps to prevent off episodes by increasing the amount of levodopa that reaches the brain by blocking the COMT enzyme, which breaks down levodopa in the blood.

References

A. Lees, J. Ferreira, H. Reichmann, E. Tolosa, A. Santos, C. Oliveira, I. Oliveira, N. Lopes, J.F. Rocha, P. Soares-da-Silva. Onset and stabilization of opicapone treatment effects in fluctuating Parkinson’s disease patients: Exploratory by-week efficacy analysis of pooled phase III studies [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2016; 31 (suppl 2).
Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Ongentys. April 2020. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2020/212489s000lbl.pdf.

When is the best time to take Ongentys?

The recommended time to take Ongentys (opicapone) is once daily at bedtime and at least one hour after food. Eating is also not recommended for an hour of taking Ongentys.

By taking Ongentys at night or at least one hour apart from levodopa, the amount of levodopa available after a dose is increased, but any interaction between the two drugs during the levodopa absorption phase is avoided. Taking Ongentys at night means that there’s greater flexibility to adjust when levodopa is taken during the day, without the need to consider potential absorption interactions. Continue reading

Is Ongentys better than Comtan?

Ongentys is better than Comtan according to the results of clinical trials. Ongentys is better at preventing early-morning off symptoms. Patients treated with Ongentys also take less time than those treated with Comtan to achieve on-status following their first dose of levodopa in the morning. In addition, Ongentys is better across a range of measures in people with Parkinson’s disease who have recently started experiencing fluctuating motor symptoms. Ongentys also only needs to be taken once daily, while Comtan needs to be taken up to eight times a day. Continue reading

What is Gocovri used to treat?

Gocovri (amantadine) is used for the treatment of dyskinesia in patients with Parkinson's disease receiving levodopa-based therapy, with or without concomitant dopaminergic medication. It is also used as an add-on therapy in Parkinson's patients who are being treated with levodopa/carbidopa and who are experiencing "off" episodes. Continue reading

Drug information

Ongentys Information for Consumers
Ongentys prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
Side Effects of Ongentys (detailed)

Related support groups

Ongentys (3 questions, 4 members)
Parkinson's Disease (45 questions, 180 members)

Medical Disclaimer