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Selegiline |
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What is Selegiline and why is it prescribed? Selegiline is prescribed along with Sinemet (levodopa/carbidopa) for people with Parkinson's disease. It is used when Sinemet no longer seems to be working well. Selegiline has no effect when taken by itself. It works only in combination with Larodopa (levodopa) or Sinemet. Early on, Larodopa or Sinemet alone may alleviate the symptoms of the disease. In time, however, these medications work less well. Their effectiveness seems to switch on and off at random, and the individual may begin to experience side effects such as involuntary movements and "freezing" in mid-motion. Selegiline may be prescribed at this stage of the disease to help restore the effectiveness of Larodopa or Sinemet. When you begin to take Selegiline, you may need a reduced dosage of the other medication. Selegiline belongs to a class of drugs known as MAO inhibitors. These drugs can interact with certain foods, including aged cheeses and meats, pickled herring, beer, and wine, to cause a life-threatening surge in blood pressure. At the dose recommended for Selegiline, this interaction is not a problem. But for safety's sake, you may want to watch your diet and you should never take more Selegiline than the doctor prescribed. How should you take Selegiline? Follow your doctors directions for taking Selegiline. If you miss a dose take it as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until late afternoon or evening, skip the dose you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Never take two doses at once. Store Selegiline at room temperature. Are there any Selegiline side effects? Selegiline side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity, inform your doctor as soon as possible. Selegiline side effects may include abdominal pain, abnormal movements, abnormally fast walking, aches, agitation, angina, anxiety, apathy, asthma, back pain, behavior or mood changes, bleeding from the rectum, blurred vision, burning lips and mouth or throat, chills, confusion, constipation, delusions, depression, diarrhea, difficulty swallowing, disorientation, dizziness, double vision, drowsiness, dry mouth, excessive urination at night, eyelid spasm, facial grimace, facial hair, fainting, falling down, freezing, frequent urination, general feeling of illness, hair loss, hallucinations, headache, heartburn, heart palpitations, heart rhythm abnormalities, "heavy leg", high blood pressure, hollow feeling, inability to carry out purposeful movements, inability to urinate, increased or excessive sweating, increased tremor, insomnia, involuntary movements, irritability, lack of appetite, leg pain, lethargy, light-headedness upon standing up, loss of balance, low blood pressure, lower back pain, migraine, muscle cramps, nausea, nervousness, numbness in toes/fingers, overstimulation, pain over the eyes, personality change, poor appetite, rapid heartbeat, rash, restlessness, ringing in the ears, sensitivity to light, sexual problems, shortness of breath, sleep disturbance, slow heartbeat, slow urination, slowed body movements, speech problems, stiff neck, stomach and intestinal bleeding, swelling of the ankles or arms and legs, taste disturbance, tension, tiredness, twitching, urinary problems, vertigo, vivid dreams or nightmares, vomiting, weakness, and weight loss. What are the possible food and drug interactions when taking Selegiline? If Selegiline is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of either could be increased, decreased, or altered. Be sure to inform your doctor of all the prescription and over the counter medications you are taking. It is especially important to check with your doctor before combining Selegiline with Antidepressant medications that raise serotonin levels (such as Paxil, Prozac, and Zoloft), Antidepressant medications classified as tricyclics (such as Elavil and Tofranil), or Narcotic painkillers (such as Demerol, Percocet, and Tylenol with Codeine). Selegiline may worsen side effects caused by your usual dosage of levodopa. Are there any special warnings about Selegiline? Never take Selegiline at a higher dosage than prescribed. Doing so could put you at risk for a dangerous rise in blood pressure. If you develop a severe headache or any other unusual symptoms, contact your doctor immediately. You may suffer a severe reaction if you combine Selegiline with tricyclic antidepressants such as Elavil and Tofranil, or with antidepressants that affect serotonin levels, such as Prozac and Paxil. Wait at least 14 days after taking Selegiline before beginning therapy with any of these drugs. If you have been taking antidepressants such as Prozac and Paxil, you should wait at least 5 weeks before taking Selegiline. This much time is needed to clear the antidepressant completely from your system. |
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