Azilect

Rasagiline is used in treating Parkinson’s disease. This medicine can be used alone or together with Levodopa.

Parkinson's disease affects the nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine. Its symptoms include muscle rigidity, tremors, and changes in speech and gait.

This product is available in tablet.

Tell to your doctor if you are allergic to Rasagiline or to any other medications. You should also inform your healthcare providers if you are allergic to foods, dyes, or animals.

Safety and effectiveness of this medicine have not been established in children. This medicine has not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems.

Pregnancy category C – The use of Rasagiline during pregnancy is warranted only if benefits justify risks to the fetus and only when no alternative management is appropriate.

This medicine inhibits prolactin secretion and may inhibit breast milk secretion. Monitor the infant for side effects and adequate milk intake if no alternative drug will be prescribed.

Taking Rasagiline with any of the following medicines is not recommended and you may not be required to receive this medication. Otherwise, alternative medicine may be prescribed for your other medications.

• Amphetamine
• Apraclonidine
• Atomoxetine
• Benzphetamine
• Brimonidine
• Bupropion
• Carbamazepine
• Carbinoxamine
• Citalopram
• Clomipramine
• Cyclobenzaprine
• Cyproheptadine
• Desipramine
• Desvenlafaxine
• Dexmethylphenidate
• Dextroamphetamine
• Dextromethorphan
• Diethylpropion
• Doxylamine
• Duloxetine
• Ephedrine
• Escitalopram
• Fluoxetine
• Fluvoxamine
• Guanadrel
• Guanethidine
• Hydroxytryptophan
• Imipramine
• Isocarboxazid
• Levomethadyl
• Levomilnacipran
• Linezolid
• Lisdexamfetamine
• Maprotiline
• Mazindol
• Meperidine
• Methadone
• Methamphetamine
• Methyldopa
• Methylphenidate
• Milnacipran
• Mirtazapine
• Nefopam
• Nortriptyline
• Opipramol
• Paroxetine
• Phendimetrazine
• Phenelzine
• Phenmetrazine
• Phentermine
• Phenylalanine
• Phenylephrine
• Phenylpropanolamine
• Procarbazine
• Propoxyphene
• Pseudoephedrine
• Rasagiline
• Reserpine
• Safinamide
• Selegiline
• Sertraline
• St John's Wort
• Sumatriptan
• Tapentadol
• Tetrabenazine
• Tramadol
• Tranylcypromine
• Trazodone
• Trimipramine
• Tryptophan
• Venlafaxine
• Vilazodone
• Vortioxetine

Taking this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but with exception in some cases. Dosage or frequency of one or both of your medicines may be changed if both medicines are prescribed together.

• Altretamine
• Amitriptyline
• Amoxapine
• Avocado
• Balofloxacin
• Besifloxacin
• Bitter Orange
• Ciprofloxacin
• Difenoxin
• Diphenoxylate
• Dolasetron
• Dothiepin
• Doxepin
• Droperidol
• Enoxacin
• Epinephrine
• Ethchlorvynol
• Fentanyl
• Flumequine
• Frovatriptan
• Gatifloxacin
• Gemifloxacin
• Granisetron
• Guarana
• Hydrocodone
• Hydromorphone
• Iobenguane I 123
• Kava
• Levofloxacin
• Licorice
• Lofepramine
• Lomefloxacin
• Lorcaserin
• Ma Huang
• Mate
• Metoclopramide
• Mibefradil
• Morphine
• Morphine Sulfate Liposome
• Moxifloxacin
• Nadifloxacin
• Naratriptan
• Nefazodone
• Norfloxacin
• Ofloxacin
• Oxycodone
• Palonosetron
• Pazufloxacin
• Pefloxacin
• Peginterferon Alfa-2b
• Pixantrone
• Protriptyline
• Prulifloxacin
• Reboxetine
• Rufloxacin
• Sibutramine
• Sparfloxacin
• Tyrosine
• Ziprasidone

Taking this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. Dosage or frequency of one or both of your medicines may be changed if both medicines are prescribed together.

• Acarbose
• Albiglutide
• Alogliptin
• Bromocriptine
• Canagliflozin
• Chlorpropamide
• Dapagliflozin
• Dulaglutide
• Empagliflozin
• Exenatide
• Ginseng
• Glimepiride
• Glipizide
• Glyburide
• Insulin
• Insulin Aspart, Recombinant
• Insulin Bovine
• Insulin Degludec
• Insulin Detemir
• Insulin Glulisine
• Insulin Lispro, Recombinant
• Linagliptin
• Liraglutide
• Lixisenatide
• Metformin
• Miglitol
• Nateglinide
• Pioglitazone
• Pramlintide
• Repaglinide
• Rosiglitazone
• Saxagliptin
• Sitagliptin
• Tolazamide
• Tolbutamide
• Vildagliptin

Some medical conditions can interact with this medication.

Tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions:

• Dyskinesia
• Hypertension
• Psychosis
• Liver disease
• Liver problems - should not be used in patients with this condition.

Take Rasagiline exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Excessive use of this medication will increase the chance for side effects while inadequate use will not help your condition.

You may take this medicine with or without food.

Avoid consuming tyramine-rich foods and beverages while you are taking this medication. Doing so may cause you to experience hypertensive crisis or "cheese reaction". A hypertensive crisis is a severe increase in blood pressure that can lead to a stroke.

Here are the following tyramine-rich foods and beverages that you should avoid:

• Aged cheese
• Air dried, aged and fermented meats, sausages and salamis (eg, cacciatore, hard salami and mortadella)
• Animal livers that are spoiled or improperly stored
• Beers and tap beers, all varieties that have not been pasteurized so as to allow for ongoing fermentation
• Broad bean pods (eg, fava bean pods)
• Meat, poultry, or fish that is spoiled or stored improperly (eg, foods with changes in coloration, odor, or mold)
• OTC supplements containing tyramine
• Pickled herring
• Red wine
• Sauerkraut
• Soybean products including soy sauce and tofu
• Yeast extract, concentrated.

Recommended dosage for patients taking Rasagiline alone is 1 milligram once a day. For patients taking Rasagiline with Levodopa, starting dose is 0.5 milligram once a day. Your doctor may increase your dose up to 1 mg per day.

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is near for your next dose, skip the missed dose and start again to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one.

Store the medication in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep out of reach of children. Do not keep expired medications.

Your doctor will be checking you regularly for the effectiveness of the medication. Blood tests may be ordered as well for undesirable effects.

This medicine should not be used together with:

• St. John's wort,
• cyclobenzaprine,
• dextromethorphan,
• meperidine,
• methadone,
• propoxyphene,
• tramadol.

In addition, avoid using this medication if you are using or have used MAO inhibitors within the past 14 days.

Seek immediate medical attention if you have any signs and symptoms of high blood pressure.

Check with your doctor immediately if you are having

• convulsions (seizures),
• difficulty with breathing,
• a fast heartbeat,
• a high fever,
• high or low blood pressure,
• increased sweating,
• loss of bladder control,
• severe muscle stiffness,
• unusually pale skin,
• tiredness.

These could be symptoms of a serious condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome.

You may experience increased dyskinesia if you take this medicine with levodopa. Check with your doctor if you have developed any of the following symptoms: twitching, twisting, uncontrolled repetitive movements of tongue, lips, face, arms, or legs.

This medicine can cause dizziness or drowsiness. Avoid driving, operating machineries, or any other risky activities when you take this medication.

This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other medicines that can make you drowsy or less alert. Check with your doctor before taking any of these medicines while you are using this medicine.

Discuss with your doctor if you have developed any unusual or strange thoughts and behaviour while receiving this medicine.

Slowly get up from a lying or sitting position since this medication may cause

• dizziness,
• light-headedness,
• fainting.

Check with your doctor if this problem continues or gets worse.

Discuss first with your doctor if you are planning to stop taking this medication. Your doctor may want you to gradually reduce the amount you are taking before stopping completely.

Check with your doctor right away if you notice any unusual red, brown, or black spots on your skin, talk to your doctor right away. It is important that your doctor check your skin regularly for signs of a skin cancer called melanoma.

Talk to your doctor if you are planning to take any other medication. Rasagiline may cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome when used with some medicines.

This especially includes medicines used to treat depression, such as

• citalopram,
• duloxetine,
• escitalopram,
• fluoxetine,
• fluvoxamine,
• olanzapine,
• paroxetine,
• sertraline,
• venlafaxine,
• Celexa®,
• Cymbalta®,
• Effexor®,
• Lexapro®,
• Luvox®,
• Paxil®,
• Prozac®,
• Sarafem®,
• Symbyax®,
• Zoloft®.

If any of the following side effects occur, check with your doctor as soon as possible:

• Abdominal or stomach pain
• Arm, back, or jaw pain
• Black, tarry stools
• Chest pain or discomfort
• Chest tightness or heaviness
• Chills
• Cloudy urine
• Cough
• Diarrhea
• Difficulty swallowing
• Dizziness
• Fainting
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Fever
• Hives, itching, or skin rash
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Painful or difficult urination
• Persistent, non-healing sore
• Pink growth on the skin
• Puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes
• Reddish patch or irritated area
• Redness, blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
• Seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
• Shiny bump
• Sore throat
• Sores, ulcers, or white spots on lips or in mouth
• Sweating
• Swollen glands
• Tests that show problems with the liver
• Tightness in the chest
• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Unusual tiredness or weakness
• Weakness
• White, yellow or waxy scar-like area

Less serious side effects:

• Acid or sour stomach
• Belching
• Difficulty with moving
• Headache
• Heartburn
• Indigestion
• Muscle pain or stiffness
• Pain in the joints
• Stomach discomfort or upset
• Bruising
• Burning, crawling, itching, numbness, prickling, "pins and needles" or tingling feelings
• Burning, dry, or itching eyes
• Decreased interest in sexual intercourse
• Difficulty breathing
• Difficulty with moving
• Discouragement
• Excessive tearing
• Eye discharge
• Fall
• Feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
• Feeling sad or empty
• General feeling of discomfort or illness
• Hair loss
• Inability to have or keep an erection
• Irritability
• Joint pain
• Lack of appetite
• Large, flat, blue or purplish patches in the skin
• Lightheadedness
• Loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
• Loss of interest or pleasure
• Muscle aches
• Neck pain
• Noisy breathing
• Redness, pain, swelling of the eye, eyelid, or inner lining of the eyelid
• Runny nose
• Sensation of spinning
• Shivering
• Sneezing
• Stuffy nose
• Swelling or redness in the joints
• Thinning of the hair
• Tiredness
• Trouble concentrating
• Trouble sleeping
• Vomiting
• Weight loss

Not all side effects are listed above. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.