Details

Selegiline prevents the breakdown of a chemical in your brain called dopamine. Low levels of this chemical are associated with Parkinson's disease. Selegiline is used together with other medicines to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease. To make sure selegiline is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney disease high blood pressure or phenylketonuria.

Typical Uses

Selegiline is used to treat movement disorders caused by Parkinson's disease. It does not cure Parkinson's disease, but it may improve shakiness (tremor), muscle stiffness, loss of normal movement as your dose of other Parkinson's medication wears off (end-of-dose failure), and sudden switching between normal movement and stiffness ("on-off" problems). It may improve your range of motion and ability to walk, dress, and exercise. Selegiline is usually used in combination with other medicines (e.g., levodopa, carbidopa).

Side Effects

Common selegiline side effects may include a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out trouble breathing confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behaviour increased tremors or uncontrolled muscle movements worsening side effects of your other medications high levels of serotonin in the body (when taken with an antidepressant)agitation, fever, fast heart rate, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of coordination, fainting or dangerously high blood pressure, severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, severe chest pain, shortness of breath, pounding heartbeats, or seizure (convulsions). You may have increased sexual urges, unusual urges to gamble, or other intense urges while taking selegiline.

Drug Interactions

• Selegiline+alfentanil- Using alfentanil together with selegiline may rarely increase the risk of serious side effects such as respiratory depression, low blood pressure, fainting, coma, and even death. In general, it is best to wait at least 14 days after stopping selegiline before you start treatment with alfentanil. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
• Selegiline+amitriptyline- Using selegiline together with amitriptyline is not recommended. Combining these medications can increase the risk of a rare but serious condition called the serotonin syndrome, which may include symptoms such as confusion, hallucination, seizure, extreme changes in blood pressure, increased heart rate, fever, excessive sweating, shivering or shaking, blurred vision, muscle spasm or stiffness, tremor, incoordination, stomach cramp, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Severe cases may result in coma and even death.
• Selegiline+benzphetamine- Using selegiline together with benzphetamine is not recommended. Combining these medications can cause dangerously high blood pressure and even death. You may use benzphetamine only after you have been off selegiline for at least 14 days.
• Selegiline+clomipramine- Using selegiline together with clomipramine is not recommended. Combining these medications can increase the risk of a rare but serious condition called the serotonin syndrome, which may include symptoms such as confusion, hallucination, seizure, extreme changes in blood pressure, increased heart rate, fever, excessive sweating, shivering or shaking, blurred vision, muscle spasm or stiffness, tremor, incoordination, stomach cramp, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea. Sever

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Mechanism of action

Selegiline belongs to the class of medication called monoamine oxidase-B inhibitor. It prevents the breakdown of a chemical called dopamine (a natural substance that is needed to control movement also obtained after chemical conversion of levodopa) in the brain. It prolongs the action of levodopa, decreases the dose of levodopa/carbidopa needed to control symptoms and stops the effects of levodopa/carbidopa from wearing off between doses.

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