Why is this medication prescribed?
Parkinson’s disease symptoms are treated with rasagiline alone or in conjunction with other drugs (a slowly progressing disease of the nervous system causing a fixed face without expression, tremor at rest, slowing of movements, walking with shuffling steps, stooped posture and muscle weakness). Rasagiline is a member of the monoamine oxidase (MAO) type B inhibitors drug class. It functions by increasing the levels of specific organic compounds in the brain.
How should this medicine be used?
Rasagiline is available as an oral tablet. Typically, it is taken once day, with or without food. Take rasagiline every day at roughly the same time. Ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Take rasagiline as prescribed by your doctor. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.
In order to gauge how well your body will respond to rasagiline, your doctor may start you out on a low dose and then gradually increase it.
Without consulting your physician, do not stop taking rasagiline. Your dose will likely be gradually reduced by your doctor. Rasagiline withdrawal symptoms could include a fever, muscle tremors, shakiness, loss of coordination, or altered levels of awareness if you stop taking it abruptly. When your rasagiline dosage is reduced, let your doctor know if you encounter any of these side effects.
Other uses for this medicine
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more details if you believe this drug should be used for something else.
What special precautions should I follow?
Before taking rasagiline,
- If you have an allergy to rasagiline, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in rasagiline tablets, let your doctor and pharmacist know right away. Request a list of the components from your pharmacist.
- Inform your physician if you are using any cough and cold medications that contain dextromethorphan (DM; Delsym, Hold, Robitussin CoughGels, Vicks 44 Cough Relief, in Robitussin DM, among others), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Dolophine, Methadose), propoxyphene (Darvon, in Darvocet-N, among (Ultram, in Ultracet). Additionally, let your doctor know if you are currently taking any MAO inhibitors, such as phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl), or tranylcypromine (Parnate), or if you have recently stopped taking them. If you are taking any of these drugs, your doctor may advise you not to take rasagiline.
- Inform your doctor and pharmacist about any additional prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, dietary supplements, and herbal products you are now taking or intend to use. Incorporate any of the following: Amphetamines (Adderall, Dexedrine, DextroStat); antidepressants; cimetidine (Tagamet); decongestants applied to the eye or nose; diet or weight-control products containing ephedrine; fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), gatifloxacin (Tequin), levofloxacin (Levaquin), nor (Ticlid). If you are currently taking fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem) or have stopped taking it within the last five weeks, let your doctor know. Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
- Inform your doctor if you have high blood pressure, mental illness, psychosis, kidney, or liver disease, or if you ever did.
- Inform your doctor if you are expecting, intend to become pregnant, or are nursing a baby. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking rasagiline.
- You should be aware that rasagiline can make you feel faint, lightheaded, queasy, sweaty, and dizzy if you stand up from a reclining position too rapidly. When taking rasagiline during the first two months, this happens more frequently. Get out of bed gradually, resting your feet on the floor for a few minutes before standing up, to avoid this issue.
- You should be aware that using rasagiline along with particular foods or drugs can result in significant, potentially fatal high blood pressure. Pay close attention to your doctor’s advice regarding drugs and foods to avoid. If you experience any of the symptoms indicated below as major side effects, such as a severe headache, blurred vision, or any other symptoms, call your doctor straight once.
- You should be aware that persons with Parkinson’s disease are more likely than those without it to develop melanoma, a type of skin cancer. It is unknown if this elevated risk is brought on by Parkinson’s disease, treatments for the condition like rasagiline, or some other factor. To check for melanoma on your skin, you ought to see a dermatologist frequently.
- You should be aware that some patients taking rasagiline or comparable drugs to treat Parkinson’s disease reported having strong cravings to gamble, had more sexual urges, or have other urges they couldn’t control. While taking rasagiline, let your doctor know if you develop new or stronger cravings to gamble, have more sexual desire, or have any other strong urges.
What special dietary instructions should I follow?
During your rasagiline treatment, you must refrain from consuming foods that have extremely high tyramine content, such as old cheeses (such as Stilton or blue cheese). If you have any side effects after consuming particular foods or beverages while taking rasagiline, consult your doctor or nutritionist right away.
What should I do if I forget a dose?
To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one. Take your next dose at the regular time the next day if you missed the previous one.
What side effects can this medication cause?
Rasagiline could have negative effects. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:
- A light headache
- Neck or joint pain
- Heartburn
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal pain
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Reduced appetite
- Loss of weight
- Flu-like signs
- Fever
- Sweating
- Eyes that are sore, puffy, or red
- Mouth ache
- Enlarged gums
- Instability, clumsiness, or poor coordination
- Repeated, unconscious bodily movements
- Not enough energy
- Sleepiness
- Strange dreams
- Depression
- Numbness, tingling, burning, or pain in the hands or feet
- Rash
- Skin bruising or a purple discolouration
Some adverse effects can be very harmful. Call your doctor right away if any of these symptoms occur to you:
- Terrible headache
- Distorted vision
- Seizures
- Chest pain
- Respiratory issues or shortness of breath
- Confusion
- Unconsciousness
- Slow or challenging speech
- Unsteadiness or weakness
- Arm or leg weakness or numbness
- Hallucinating (seeing things or hearing sounds that do not exist) (seeing things or hearing voices that do not exist)
- Extreme agitation
- Difficulty perceiving reality or thinking clearly
Other negative effects of rasagiline may occur. If you experience any strange issues while taking this medicine, contact your doctor right away.
What should I know about storage and disposal of this medication?
Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Store it away from excessive heat and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom).
Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your pharmacist or the garbage/recycling department in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.
As many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org
In case of emergency/overdose
Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Additionally, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.
Rasagiline overdose symptoms could show up one to two days after the overdose. Overdose signs could include the following:
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness
- Faintness
- Irritability
- Hyperactivity
- Irritability or unease
- Terrible headache
- Hallucinating
- Confusion
- Inability to coordinate
- Having trouble expanding the mouth
- Rigid muscle spasm, sometimes with an arched back
- Tensed muscles
- Seizures
- Consciousness loss Rrapid or erratic heartbeat
- Pain in the area between the stomach and chest
- Breathing challenges or delayed breathing
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Sweating
- Clammy, cold skin
- Shivering
- Greater size of the pupils (black circle in middle of eye)
What other information should I know?
Keep all of your doctor’s appointments.
No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding medication refills should be directed to your pharmacist.
You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.
Brand names
- Azilect®