Rasagiline

Rasagiline is a prescription medication used to treat Parkinson's disease. Rasagiline belongs to a group of drugs called monoamine oxidase (MAO) type B inhibitors. The exact way rasagiline works for Parkinson's disease is unknown, but it is thought to work by increasing dopamine levels in the body. 

Rasagiline is a prescription medicine used to treat Parkinson's disease. 

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

Rasagiline may be found in some form under the following brand names:

• Azilect

Common side effects of rasagiline when taken alone are:

• flu syndrome
• joint pain
• depression
• indigestion

 When taken with levodopa common side effects include:

• uncontrolled movements (dyskinesia)
• accidental injury
• weight loss
• low blood pressure when standing
• vomiting
• anorexia
• joint pain
• abdominal pain
• nausea
• constipation
• dry mouth
• rash
• abnormal dreams
• fall

This is not a complete list of rasagiline side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription or non-prescription medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• meperidine
• tramadol
• methadol
• propoxyphene
• dextromethorphan (found in many non-prescription cough medicines)
• other monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
• St. John's wort
• cyclobenzaprine
• medicines for depression (antidepressants)
• ciprofloxacin

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

Serious side effects have occurred with rasagiline when taken with antidepressant medicines. Tell your doctor if you are taking an antidepressant.

You should not take rasagiline if you have moderate to severe liver disease.

You should not take more than 1 mg of rasagiline per day. When taken in amounts greater than 1 mg per day, rasagiline may cause a serious and possibly dangerous increase in blood pressure called hypertensive crisis.

Talk to your doctor about monitoring for skin cancer (melanoma) on a regular basis. People taking rasagiline may have a higher risk of melanoma.

Tyramine is a naturally occurring compound found in some cheeses and other foods that may cause dangerously high blood pressure in people taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) like rasagiline. You should avoid eating very large amounts of foods containing high amounts of tyramine such as aged cheeses, yogurt, tap beer, and fermented soy products. Some of the signs and symptoms of dangerously high blood pressure (hypertensive crisis) are:

• severe headache
• vision problems
• confusion
• stupor (mental numbness)
• coma
• seizures
• chest pain
• unexplained nausea or vomiting
• stroke-like symptoms (sudden numbness or weakness - especially on one side of the body)

Get emergency medical help if you experience these symptoms.

Before receiving rasagiline, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any of the ingredients found in rasagiline.

Tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions including if you have liver disease. 

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Tell your doctor if you are taking, or are planning to take, prescription or non-prescription medicines, vitamins, or herbal supplements.

It is not known if rasagiline will harm an unborn baby if taken during pregnancy. Rasagiline should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the unborn baby.

Rasagiline inhibits prolactin secretion and may inhibit breast milk secretion. It is not known if rasagiline is excreted in human breast milk or if it will harm your baby.

Rasagiline comes as a tablet to be taken by mouth with or without food. It is usually taken once a day at around the same time. Take rasagiline exactly as your doctor has prescribed it.  Do not stop taking rasagiline suddenly as you may experience unpleasant symptoms. Your doctor will talk to you about slowly stopping rasagiline to avoid these symptoms if you must stop taking it. If you miss a dose, don't double up, just take your next dose as scheduled.

Rasagiline is usually taken once daily by mouth, with or without food. Take rasagiline exactly as it is prescribed by your doctor. Rasagiline has been shown to work when taken alone for symptom relief in early-stage Parkinson’s disease or taken with carbidopa/levodopa and other Parkinson’s disease medications when more relief is needed. The recommended doses are 0.5 or 1 mg daily.

If you have taken too much rasagiline seek emergency medical attention or call your local Poison Control Center right away.

Store this medication at room temperature, away from excess heat and moisture. Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.