Selegiline
About Selegiline
Selegiline is an oral medication primarily prescribed to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. It is typically used in combination with other standard Parkinson's treatments to help manage movement difficulties and improve muscle control. By adding this medication to your treatment plan, you can experience more consistent symptom relief throughout the day.
To get the best results, you must take Selegiline consistently at the same times each day. It is usually taken in the morning or early afternoon, with or without food, depending on your doctor's recommendation. Making positive lifestyle changes, such as eating a balanced diet and participating in regular physical activity, can also greatly support your treatment and overall mobility.
While taking Selegiline, you may experience some common side effects, such as mild dizziness, nausea, or a dry mouth. However, you must contact your doctor immediately if you experience serious symptoms like severe headaches, confusion, or unusual changes in your mood. Your healthcare provider will monitor your progress closely to ensure your safety.
Before starting this medication, tell your doctor about your complete medical history, especially if you have high blood pressure, heart issues, kidney disease, or liver damage. Do not take this if you are currently using certain antidepressants, strong pain relievers, or cough medications, as these combinations can cause serious health complications. Your doctor will help determine if this medicine is safe for you.
This medication can interact with alcohol, smoking, and specific foods, which may increase your risk of severe side effects like a sudden spike in blood pressure. If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, breastfeeding, or an elderly individual, consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment to ensure it is handled safely.
Uses of Selegiline
Medicinal Benefits
Selegiline helps manage the symptoms of Parkinson's disease by improving movement control and enhancing the effectiveness of Parkinson's treatment. By reducing motor fluctuations, it supports greater independence and a better quality of life.
- Helps Improve Movement Control: By supporting the action of Parkinson's medicines, Selegiline helps reduce movement difficulties, making activities such as walking, writing, dressing, and eating easier to perform.
- Helps Reduce 'Off' Episodes: Selegiline helps prolong the effects of other Parkinson's medications, reducing periods when symptoms suddenly return and promoting more consistent symptom control throughout the day.
- Supports Better Daily Functioning: By providing more stable control of Parkinson's symptoms, Selegiline helps improve mobility, maintain independence, and support a more active and predictable daily routine.
Directions for Use
- Selegiline is usually taken on an empty stomach, or as advised by your doctor.
- It is usually taken once in a day or as directed by the doctor.
- Swallow it as a whole with a glass of water.
- Do not chew, crush, or break it.
Storage
Side Effects of Selegiline
Common Side Effects (Usually mild):
- Dizziness or lightheadedness, especially when standing up quickly
- Nausea, mild stomach upset, or dry mouth
- Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- Mild headaches or joint pain
Serious Side Effects (Consult a doctor right away):
- A sudden, severe headache accompanied by a fast or pounding heartbeat, chest pain, or sweating
- New or worsening confusion, hallucinations, or unusual mood changes
- Uncontrolled, sudden muscle movements that you have not experienced before
- Signs of an allergic reaction, including skin rash, itching, swelling of the face or throat, or trouble breathing
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Drug Warnings
Take your doses in the morning or early afternoon to avoid sleep disturbances or insomnia.
Regularly check your blood pressure at home and share these readings with your doctor, as this medication can influence blood pressure levels.
Avoid driving or operating machinery until you know how this medicine affects your alertness and coordination.
Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting any new over-the-counter medications, particularly cough, cold, or allergy remedies, to prevent serious drug interactions.
Drug Interactions
- Certain antidepressants (e.g., SSRIs, SNRIs) and prescription pain relievers (e.g., pethidine): Do not take these medicines together with Selegiline unless specifically advised by your doctor. Combining them may increase the risk of serotonin syndrome, a rare but potentially life-threatening condition characterised by high fever, confusion, muscle stiffness, agitation, and rapid heart rate.
Drug-Drug Interactions Checker List:
Safety Advice
Alcohol
unsafeAvoid consumption of alcohol with Selegiline as it may increase the risk of adverse effects such as drowsiness, dizziness or difficulty in concentrating.
Pregnancy
unsafeSelegiline is a Category C pregnancy drug and is usually not recommended for pregnant women. Please consult a doctor if you are pregnant as Selegiline is given to pregnant women only if the doctor thinks benefits outweigh risks.
Breast Feeding
unsafeSelegiline is not recommended for breastfeeding mothers. However, please consult a doctor before taking Selegiline if you are a breastfeeding mother.
Driving
unsafeSelegiline may cause drowsiness or dizziness and make you fall asleep suddenly. It is an offence to drive if Selegiline affects you. Therefore, avoid driving if you feel drowsy or dizzy after taking Selegiline.
Liver
cautionTake Selegiline with caution, especially if you have a history of Liver diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Kidney
cautionTake Selegiline with caution, especially if you have a history of Kidney diseases/conditions. The dose may be adjusted by your doctor as required.
Children
unsafeSelegiline is not recommended for children as the safety and efficacy were not established.
Habit Forming
Diet & Lifestyle Advise
- Watch your diet: Avoid foods that are very high in tyramine, such as aged cheeses, cured meats, draft beers, and fermented yeast products. Combining these with this medication can cause a dangerous spike in your blood pressure.
- Stand up slowly: To prevent dizziness or fainting, take your time when rising from a sitting or lying position.
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of water throughout the day to help manage dry mouth and reduce the risk of dizziness.
- Incorporate physical therapy: Engage in gentle, doctor-approved exercises like walking or stretching to help support your muscle strength and flexibility.
Special Advise
Selegiline may cause abnormalities in certain laboratory test results such as liver function tests and blood tests. Therefore, inform your doctor or lab technician that you are on treatment with Selegiline before undergoing any tests.
Selegiline should not be used at daily doses of more than 2.5 mg/day due to the risks associated with a change in the amount of chemical messenger in the brain called a neurotransmitter.
Selegiline is contraindicated for use with medicine containing meperidine, as serious reactions have been experienced in patients taking both medications together.
Patients Concern
Disease/Condition Glossary
Parkinson’s disease: It is a disorder of the central nervous system that affects movement due to nerve cell damage in the brain which decreases the levels of dopamine and leads to symptoms such as stiffness, tremor in one hand, shaking, difficulty in walking, coordination, and balance. This condition can last for many years or life-long. Treatment with medicines along with physiotherapy may help to control the symptoms and provide a quality life for as long as possible.
FAQs
Selegiline is used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease.
Selegiline contains Selegiline, an antiparkinson agent that works by inhibiting the action of monoamine oxidase-B enzyme that naturally breaks down dopamine. Thereby, increases dopamine in the brain and restores its levels. Thus, improves the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.
You recommend avoiding tyramine rich foods such as broad beans, Bovril, mature cheese, fermented soya bean products or yeast extracts as it may cause severe high blood pressure.
Selegiline may cause low blood pressure in some patients, especially while standing up suddenly from a sitting or lying down position and cause symptoms such as dizziness, sweating, nausea or fainting. Hence, to avoid orthostatic hypotension, you are recommended to get up slowly after lying down or sitting.
Selegiline is not recommended for glaucoma (damage of optic nerve that is essential for good vision) patients as it may increase the fluid pressure inside the eye. However, regular monitoring of pressure in the eyes is recommended while on treatment with Selegiline.
No. You should generally not take Selegiline with escitalopram unless your doctor specifically advises you to do so. Using these medicines together may increase the risk of serotonin syndrome, a rare but serious condition that can cause symptoms such as confusion, agitation, fever, sweating, muscle stiffness, tremors, rapid heartbeat, and changes in blood pressure. Always tell your doctor about all the medicines you are taking before starting or stopping Selegiline.
No. Selegiline does not cure Parkinson's disease. It is used to help manage the symptoms of Parkinson's disease by increasing dopamine levels in the brain, which helps improve movement and other symptoms. Continue taking Selegiline as prescribed by your doctor, even if you feel better, unless your doctor advises you to stop.
Selegiline should not be used with pain killers like meperidine, tramadol, methadone, propoxyphene and cough syrups containing dextromethorphan. Using together can cause severe side effects and can worsen your present condition.
Selegiline is safe if used in the dose and duration prescribed by your doctor. Take it precisely as directed, and do not skip any dose. Follow your doctor’s instructions carefully and inform your doctor if you experience any side effects.
Selegiline which contains selegiline, is not classified as a stimulant. However, it can have stimulating effects on the brain, such as causing mood changes, anxiety, agitation, hallucinations, confusion, and sleep disturbances.
No, Selegiline is not considered addictive. However, use Selegiline as prescribed by your doctor. Do not exceed the recommended dose.
Yes, Selegiline should be tapered (changing dose) gradually under the guidance of your doctor. It should not be suddenly stopped as it can cause confusion, sweating, stiff muscles, and high fever. Your doctor will provide a tapering schedule to safely reduce your dosage.
Yes, Selegiline is considered neuroprotective. It helps slow down the progression of Parkinson's disease by increasing the amount of dopamine in the brain, which is essential for controlling movement.
Selegiline can cause weight loss in some individuals. However, not everyone will experience this side effect. Take a balanced diet with sufficient calories, proteins, fats, and carbohydrates to manage this side effect.
The common side effects of Selegiline are sore mouth, swollen gums, loss of balance, difficulty in controlling movements, headache, dizziness, nausea, sleep disorders, mouth ulcers or constipation. If any of these side effects persist or worsen, please consult your doctor.
Yes, you can take Selegiline with or without food. If you experience nausea or an upset stomach, taking it with a meal can help ease these symptoms. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist for personalised guidance.
Yes, this medication can cause insomnia if taken too late in the day. To help prevent this, it is generally recommended to take your doses in the morning and early afternoon. Talk to your doctor if sleep issues continue to bother you.
It is highly recommended to avoid alcohol while taking this medicine. Alcohol can worsen side effects like drowsiness and dizziness, and certain alcoholic beverages also contain tyramine, which can raise your blood pressure. Talk to your doctor for more information.
