Selegiline (Eldepryl, Zelapar) for Parkinson's Disease

Overview
Selegiline is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat motor symptoms in people with Parkinson’s disease. Selegiline may be prescribed as a monotherapy to people with early Parkinson’s disease, or as an adjunctive (add-on) treatment in those who are taking levodopa/carbidopa and are experiencing reductions in its effectiveness. Selegiline is also referred to by its brand names, Eldepryl and Zelapar.

Selegiline is a member of a class of antidepressant drugs called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). In cases of Parkinson’s disease, selegiline is believed to work by preventing the breakdown of dopamine in the brain, thereby increasing the amount of dopamine available.

Some medications are available both as generic and branded products. Although generic and branded formulations of a drug contain the same active ingredients at the same concentrations, your body may react differently to different formulations. Check with your doctor before switching between drug brands or between generic and branded drugs.

How do I take it?
Selegiline is taken orally, either as a capsule or a disintegrating tablet. As a capsule, selegiline is taken twice a day with meals. As a disintegrating tablet, selegiline is taken once daily on an empty stomach, before breakfast. Do not eat or drink five minutes before or after taking selegiline as a disintegrating tablet.

Side effects
Common side effects of selegiline include drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, gas, diarrhea, constipation, trouble sleeping, unusual dreams, back or leg pain, or rash. If you are taking selegiline disintegrating tablets, you may develop mouth sores.

Rare but serious side effects include severe allergic reactions, hallucinations, depression, tremors, chest pain, trouble breathing, or a fast or pounding heartbeat.

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Selegiline — Daily Med
https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo....