Eldepryl

Eldepryl is used to help control the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Eldepryl belongs to a group of drugs called monamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, which affect levels of certain natural substances in the brain. These substances are involved with motor control.

This medication comes in capsule form. They are taken twice daily, one dose at breakfast and the second dose at lunch.

Common side effects of Eldepryl include redness in the application area, a large and sudden increase in blood pressure (hypertensive crisis), and low blood pressure (hypotension). Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how Eldepryl will affect you.

Eldepryl is used to help control the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

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

Eldepryl should not be used at daily doses above those recommended (10 mg/day) because of the risks associated with non-selective inhibition of MAO.

The recommended regimen for the administration of Eldepryl (selegiline) are 10 mg per day administered as divided doses of 5 mg each taken at breakfast and lunch.

Eldepryl contains a medicine called a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, also called a MAOI. MAOI medicines, including Eldepryl, can cause a sudden, large increase in blood pressure (hypertensive crisis) if you eat foods and drinks that contain high amounts of tyramine. A hypertensive crisis can be a life-threatening condition. See "Eldepryl Side Effects" for signs and symptoms of a hypertensive crisis.

• You must avoid (not eat or drink) certain foods and drinks while using Eldepryl and for 2 weeks after stopping Eldepryl.
• See "Eldepryl Food Interactions" section for more information regarding foods to avoid.

• Eldepryl can cause serious and potentially life-threatening reactions if used with certain other medicines. Do not take the following medicines while using Eldepryl, and for 2 weeks after stopping Eldepryl: 
  ▪other medicines to treat depression (antidepressants) including other MAOI medicines
  ▪another medicine which contains selegiline such as Zelapar
  ▪St. John’s wort (a herbal supplement)
       ▪ Demerol (meperidine), or medicines that contain meperidine (a narcotic pain medicine) or the pain medicines tramadol, methadone, or propoxyphene
  ▪Tegretol (carbamazepine), or other medicines that contain carbamazepine (a seizure medicine)
       ▪ Trileptal (oxcarbazepine), or other medicines that contain oxcarbazepine (a seizure medicine)
       ▪ Cold or cough preparations that contain dextromethorphan
       ▪ Flexeril or other medicines that contain cyclobenzaprine (a medicine used to treat muscle spasms)
  ▪ decongestant medicines, found in many products to treat cold symptoms
       ▪ over-the-counter diet pills or herbal weight-loss products
       ▪ any herbal or dietary supplement that contains tyramine
       ▪ medicines called amphetamines, also called stimulants or “uppers”
       ▪ BuSpar (buspirone HCl), an anxiety medicine
• Some of these medicines will have to be stopped for at least a week before you can start using Eldepryl.
• Do not use Eldepryl if you are allergic to anything in this medication
• You must not eat foods or drink beverages that contain high amounts of tyramine while using Eldepryl.
• Do not take other medicines while using Eldepryl or for 2 weeks after you stop using it unless your doctor has told you it is okay. See “Eldepryl Drug Precautions".
• Do not drive or operate dangerous machinery until you know how Eldepryl affects you. Eldepryl may reduce your judgment, ability to think, or coordination.
• Drinking alcoholic beverages is not recommended while using Eldepryl.
• Eldepryl is not to be used if you are also taking meperidine (Demerol). This contraindication is often extended to other opioid medications.

• Eldepryl can cause a sudden, large increase in blood pressure (‘‘hypertensive crisis’’) if you eat certain foods and drinks during treatment. See “Drug Precautions”. A hypertensive crisis can lead to stroke and death. Symptoms of a hypertensive crisis include the sudden onset of severe headache, nausea, stiff neck, a fast heartbeat or a change in the way your heart beats (palpitations), a lot of sweating, and confusion. If you suddenly have these symptoms, get medical care right away.
• Eldepryl can cause serious and potentially life-threatening reactions if used with certain other medicines. See “Eldepryl Drug Precautions”.
• Eldepryl may worsen your depression, give you suicidal thoughts, or cause unusual changes in behavior.  Call your doctor right away if you feel worse with Eldepryl.
• Eldepryl may cause a mental condition called mania or hypomania (mental condition which causes high moods) in people who have a history of mania.
• Eldepryl can cause low blood pressure. Lie down if you feel dizzy, faint, or lightheaded. Change your position slowly if low blood pressure is a problem for you. Tell your doctor if you have these symptoms. You may need a lower dose of Eldepryl.

The most common side effects with Eldepryl include the following dizziness, nausea, pain, headache, insomnia, runny nose, involuntary movement, back pain, mouth inflammation, and upset stomach.

These are not all the side effects of Eldepryl. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

Eldepryl can cause serious and potentially life-threatening reactions if used with certain other medicines. Do not take the following medicines while using Eldepryl, and for 2 weeks after stopping Eldepryl:

• other medicines to treat depression (antidepressants) including other MAOI medicines
• another medicine which contains selegiline such as Zelapar
• St. John’s wort (a herbal supplement)
• Demerol (meperidine), or medicines that contain meperidine (a narcotic pain medicine) or the pain medicines tramadol, methadone, or propoxyphene
• Tegretol (carbamazepine), or other medicines that contain carbamazepine (a seizure medicine)
• Trileptal (oxcarbazepine), or other medicines that contain oxcarbazepine (a seizure medicine)
• Cold or cough preparations that contain dextromethorphan
• Flexeril or other medicines that contain cyclobenzaprine (a medicine used to treat muscle spasms)
• decongestant medicines, found in many products to treat cold symptoms
• over-the-counter diet pills or herbal weight-loss products
• any herbal or dietary supplement that contains tyramine
• medicines called amphetamines, also called stimulants or “uppers”
• BuSpar (buspirone), an anxiety medicine

Some of these medicines will have to be stopped for at least a week before you can start using Eldepryl. Be sure to tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

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

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

This medication falls into category C. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication and had some babies born with problems. No well-controlled studies have been done in humans. Therefore, this medication may be used if the potential benefits to the mother outweigh the potential risks to the unborn child.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Eldepryl passes into your milk or if it can harm your baby.

Antidepressant medicines may increase suicidal thoughts or actions in some patients within the first few months of treatment.

Watch for these changes and call your healthcare provider right away if you notice new or sudden changes in mood, behavior, actions, thoughts, or feelings, especially if severe.

Drinking alcoholic beverages is not recommended while using selegiline.

Selegiline can cause serious and potentially life-threatening reactions if used with certain other medicines. See "Selegiline Drug Interactions" section for more information.

You must avoid (not eat or drink) certain foods and drinks while using selegiline and for 2 weeks after stopping selegiline. See "Selegiline Food Interactions" section for more information regarding foods to avoid.