Nourianz

Nourianz is a prescription medication used with levodopa and carbidopa to treat adults with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who are having “off” episodes. Nourianz belongs to a group of drugs called adenosine receptor antagonists. The exact way it works to treat PD is unknown.

This medication comes in tablet form. Nourianz is taken once daily, with or without food.

Common side effects include uncontrolled movements (dyskinesia), dizziness, constipation, nausea, hallucinations, and problems sleeping (insomnia).

Nourianz is a prescription medicine used with levodopa and carbidopa to treat adults with Parkinson’s disease (PD) who are having “off” episodes.

It is not known if Nourianz is safe and effective in children.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects may occur. See "Nourianz Precautions" section.

The most common side effects of Nourianz include uncontrolled movements (dyskinesia), dizziness, constipation, nausea, hallucinations, and problems sleeping (insomnia).

These are not all the possible side effects of Nourianz.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• ketoconazole
• itraconazole
• rifampin
• rifabutin
• carbamazepine
• phenytoin
• St John’s Wort
• clarithromycin
• telithromycin
• erythromycin

Cigarette smoking decreases Nourianz blood levels.

Nourianz and other medicines may affect each other causing side effects. Nourianz may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Nourianz works.

Know the medicines you take. Keep a list of them to show your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

This is not a complete list of Nourianz drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Nourianz may cause serious side effects, including:

• uncontrolled sudden movements (dyskinesia). Uncontrolled sudden movements is one of the most common side effects. Nourianz may cause uncontrolled sudden movements or make such movements you already have worse or more frequent. Tell your healthcare provider if this happens.
• hallucinations and other symptoms of psychosis. Nourianz can cause abnormal thinking and behavior including:
  • being overly suspicious or feeling people want to harm you (paranoid ideation)
  • believing things that are not real (delusions)
  • seeing or hearing things that are not real (hallucinations)
  • confusion 
  • increase activity or talking (mania)
  • disorientation
  • aggressive behavior
  • agitation
  • delirium (decreased awareness of things around you)

If you have hallucinations or any other abnormal thinking or behavior talk with your healthcare provider.

• unusual urges (impulse control or compulsive behaviors). Some people taking Nourianz get urges to behave in a way unusual for them. Examples of this are unusual urges to gamble, increased sexual urges, strong urges to spend money, binge eating, and the inability to control these urges. If you notice or your family notices that you are developing any unusual behaviors, talk to your healthcare provider.

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Nourianz, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Before you take Nourianz, tell your healthcare provider about all your medical conditions, including if you:

• have a history of abnormal movement (dyskinesia).
• have reduced liver function.
• smoke cigarettes.
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Nourianz may harm your unborn baby.
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Nourianz passes into breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will take Nourianz or breastfeed.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Tell your heathcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Nourianz may harm your unborn baby.

There are no well-done studies that have been done in humans with Nourianz. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and some babies born with problems including malformations and fetal death. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.

Tell your healthcare provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Nourianz passes into breast milk. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will take Nourianz or breastfeed.

• Take Nourianz exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to.
• Take Nourianz one time each day.
• You can take Nourianz with or without food.

Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take Nourianz exactly as directed.

The recommended dosage of Nourianz is 20 mg administered orally once daily. The dosage may be increased to a maximum of 40 mg once daily, based on individual need and how the medication is tolerated.

If you take too much Nourianz, call your health care provider or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.

• Store Nourianz at room temperature between 68°F to 77°F (20°C to 25°C).
• Keep Nourianz and all medicines out of the reach of children.