Selegiline

What is Selegiline?

Selegiline stops the breakdown of a chemical that is in your brain known as dopamine (DO pa meen). The presence of low levels of this chemical can be associated with Parkinson's disease.

Selegiline is a component of other medications to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.Selegiline is also used for reasons not mentioned in this medication guide.

Side effects of Selegiline

Contact a medical professional immediately. Get medical attention immediately if you notice symptoms or warning signs of a reaction, like hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of your lips, face, or tongue.

Selegiline could cause severe adverse effects.Get in touch with your doctor immediately if you notice:

• A feeling of lightheadedness, as if you're passing out;
• Trouble breathing
• Hallucinations, confusion, bizarre thoughts or behaviors;
• More tremors or uncontrolled muscle movements;
• More severe side effects from your other medications
• High levels of serotonin in the body (when taken with an antidepressant) --agitation, fever, fast heart rate, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, fainting;
• Very dangerously high blood pressure—severe migraine, blurred vision, the pounding of your neck or your ears. Anxiety and nausea. Extreme chest pain, breathing problems, heartbeats that pound, or seizures (convulsions).

There is a possibility that you will experience increased sexual cravings, unusual urges towards gambling, or any other intense urges when taking selegiline. Consult your physician when this happens.

Common selegiline-related side effects could include:

• Dizziness;
• Nausea, stomach pain, constipation;
• Skin eruption or any other irritation
• Sleep problems (insomnia);
• Mouth ulcers or sores and pain during swallowing (while taking selegiline orally dissolving tablets).

This isn't an exhaustive list of the possible effects, and other side effects might occur. Consult your physician for advice regarding medical adverse effects. You can report any adverse reactions to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Warnings

Severe drug interactions could be experienced when certain medications are taken when selegiline is used. Tell each of your health care providers about the medications you are currently taking as well as any medication that you decide to stop or begin taking.

Prior to use this drug

Selegiline is not a good choice when you are allergic to it or have used another fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem, etc.) In the last 5 weeks.

Certain medicines may cause undesirable or harmful effects when they are combined with selegiline. Your doctor might have to modify your treatment in the event that you are taking any of the following medications:

• Cough medicine that has the ingredient dextromethorphan;
• Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril);
• Meperidine (Demerol) or another opioid (opioid) pain medication;
• Methadone;
• John's Wort;
• Tramadol (Ultram, Ultracet);

When you have stopped taking selegiline, you should wait at least 14 days before taking any of the drugs listed above.

To ensure selegiline is not harmful to you, inform your doctor whether you suffer from:

• Kidney or liver disease
• High blood pressure
• Phenylketonuria (selegiline tablets that dissolve orally could contain phenylalanine)

Patients with Parkinson's disease might be at greater risk for skin cancer (melanoma). Discuss with your physician the risk and what symptoms to be looking for.

It is unclear if selegiline can harm an unborn baby. Consult your physician if you are expecting or planning to be pregnant.It isn't known if selegiline gets into breast milk or whether it can harm breastfeeding babies. Consult your physician if you are breastfeeding a baby.

How to take Selegiline?

Follow all the instructions on the prescription label. Your doctor might alter your dosage to ensure you receive the most effective outcomes. Avoid using this medication in smaller or larger amounts or for longer periods than prescribed. Don't alter your dosages or schedule of medication without your physician's guidance.

Selegiline capsules are usually taken two times each day, during lunch and breakfast. Follow your doctor's prescriptions.The tablet is a disintegrating version that contains selegiline (Zelapar) and is recommended to take once every day prior to breakfast with no liquid.

Selegiline is a drug that you can take, and for the 14 days following the time you stop using it, you are required to not eat any of the foods mentioned as being in the "What should I avoid while using selegiline?" section of the leaflet. Foods you consume while you're taking selegiline could increase your blood pressure to levels that are dangerous.

The foods you may consume include:

• Fresh meat, poultry, as well as fish (including lunch hot dogs, meat breakfast sausages, and cooked ham slices);
• Any vegetables except broad bean pods (fava beans);
• Processed cheese, mozzarella, ricotta, and cottage cheese;
• Pizzas made of cheeses that are low in tyramine
• Yogurt, soy milk,
• Brewer's, or baker's, yeast

Selegiline is a dissolving orally-inhaled tablet (Zelapar).

• Store the tablet in the package until it is time to consume the medication. Then, open the box and remove the foil that was inside the tablet's blister. Be careful not to press a tablet into the foil, or you could cause damage to the tablet.
• With clean hands, take the tablet from your hands and place it on your tongue. The tablet will start to dissolve in a matter of minutes. Don't swallow the tablet completely. Allow it to dissolve into your mouth without chewing. Drink several times until the tablet disintegrates.
• Avoid eating or drinking anything for at least five minutes following taking a Zelapar oral disintegrating tablet.

Selegiline should not be stopped immediately, or you may experience negative consequences. For the best results, you should continue using the medication as directed.Keep this medicine in a cool, dry place at a temperature that is free of heat and humidity.

Save each Zelapar tablet inside the blister package made of foil until you are ready to take it. Get rid of any Zelapar tablets that are not used within 3 months from the date you opened the bag that contains your blister packet.

Details on dosage

Usual Adult Dose for Parkinson's Disease:

Tablets and capsules for oral consumption 5 mg taken every day, orally taken in the morning and lunch
Maximum dosage of 10 mg taken orally per day
Oral tablet that is disintegrating:
Initial dosage: 1.25 mg orally once per day for at least 6 weeks
After six weeks, the dose can be increased to 2.5 mg once a day if necessary.
Dosage for maintenance: 1.25 to 2.5 mg orally every day prior to breakfast.
Maximum dosage: 2.5 mg orally once every day.
Comments:
Within 2 to 3 days of beginning treatment with this medication, there is a possibility that an attempt could be made to decrease the dosage, that is, the drug levodopa or carbidopa. Generally, a 10–30% reduction is required, and further reductions are feasible during the continued use of the drug.
There is no evidence that this medication has a beneficial impact in the absence of simultaneous levodopa therapy.
It is used as an aid in the treatment of Parkinson's disease in patients treated with levodopa or carbidopa who show a decline in the quality of their responses to this treatment.

Usual Adult Dose for Depression:

Transdermal System:
Initial dosage: 6 mg/24-hour patch, applied topically every day.
Based on clinical judgment, dosages can be increased by amounts of up to 3 mg per 24 hours over intervals of not less than two weeks.
Maintenance dosage: 6 mg/24 hours up to 12 mg/24 hours patch is applied topically every day.
Maximum dose: 12 mg/24 hours
Comments:
Antidepressant effects may be delayed.
Foods that contain a high amount of tyramine are advised to be avoided from the very first day of treatment with a dose of 9 mg/24 or 12 mg/24 hours and kept off for two weeks after the doses are lowered to 6 mg/24 or less.
Use: Treatment for major depression (MDD)

What happens if I miss the dose?

Do the dose you missed as soon as you remember. Avoid your missed dosage if it's close to the time of the next dose. Don't take any extra medication to make up for the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

For medical emergencies, seek emergency medical attention or contact for help at the Poison Helpline at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose symptoms can include severe headaches, hallucinations, vision issues, hallucinations, sweating, cold or clammy skin, an unsteady or fast beat, experiencing lightheadedness, fainting, or having seizures (convulsions).

What should be avoided?

Do not drink alcohol while taking selegiline.

Selegiline is a drug that you take, and for the 14 days following the last dose, you should avoid eating foods high in tyramine. This includes:

• Air-dried meats, aged or fermented products, salami, sausages, or other meats (including mortadella and cacciatore), and pickled herring
• Any food item that is spoiled or stored improperly; any spoiled or improperly stored poultry, beef, or livers;
• The tap water or tap that has not been pasteurized;
• Aged cheeses that have been aged (such as blue Swiss and cheddar Parmesan and Romano cheese);
• Over-the-counter medicines for cough and cold medications that contain tyramine
• Sauerkraut, soy beans, soy sauce, tofu, fava beans, or
• Extracts of yeast (such as marmite)

Consuming tyramine when you are taking selegiline could elevate your blood pressure to levels that could result in life-threatening adverse consequences. It is important to be aware of what foods you should stay clear of while taking selegiline.

Selegiline could affect your brain or your reactions. Certain people who take selegiline have experienced sleepiness during normal daily activities like eating, working, talking, or driving. You might fall asleep quickly, even after being at a high level of alertness. Be cautious if you drive or do something that requires you to stay conscious.

Interaction with other drugs

Numerous drugs can be incompatible with selegiline, and some medications should not be taken together. This includes prescription and non-prescription medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Not all interactions are included in this guideline. Inform your doctor of the medicines you are taking or will start or stop taking when you're taking selegiline. Make a list of all the medicines you take for any healthcare professional who will treat you.