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What are Rasagiline tablets?

RASAGILINE (Azilect®) belongs to a class of drugs called selective monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Rasagiline is used to treat Parkinson's disease. It can be given alone or in combination with levodopa; carbidopa. While taking this medicine you must watch your diet and avoid or limit certain foods (see below). Generic rasagiline tablets are not yet available.

What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
• asthma or bronchitis
• dementia
• diabetes
• frequently drink alcohol-containing beverages
• frequent falls or fainting
• headaches or migraine
• heart disease, irregular heart beats, history of a heart attack
• high blood pressure
• history of skin cancer (melanoma)
• kidney disease
• liver disease
• over-active thyroid
• pheochromocytoma
• psychosis
• recent head trauma
• seizures or convulsions
• stomach or intestinal ulcers
• stroke
• unusual movements of the face, lips or tongue
• an unusual reaction to Rasagiline, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should this medicine be used?

Take rasagiline by mouth. Follow the directions on the prescription label. Swallow the tablets with a drink of water. Take your doses at regular intervals. Do not take your medicine more often than directed. Do not stop taking the tablets except on your prescriber's advice.

Contact your pediatrician or health care professional regarding the use of this medicine in children. Special care may be needed.

What drug(s) may interact with Rasagiline?

Rasagiline tablets have the potential to interact with many medications and foods. The list below contains some of the drugs that can interact:

Do not use Rasagiline with any of the following medications:
• alcohol-containing beverages or medications
• amphetamine, dextroamphetamine, methamphetamine, dexmethylphenidate, methylphenidate (Ritalin®) and other stimulants (these are often used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD)
• bupropion (for example Wellbutrin®, Zyban® or others)
• buspirone (Buspar®)
• carbamazepine (Tegretol®)
• certain cold medications (prescription or over-the-counter) that have decongestants like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed® and others) or ephedrine
• cocaine
• cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril®)
• dextromethorphan (Robitussin® and others)
• furazolidone (Furoxone®)
• general anesthetics
• meperidine (Demerol®)
• metaraminol
• methadone
• mirtazapine (Remeron®)
• oral or transdermal selegiline (Eldepryl®, Emsam®) or other monoamine oxidase inhibitors (e.g., isocarboxazid, phenelzine, and tranylcypromine) and drugs with MAOI-like properties (e.g., furazolidone, linezolid, isoniazid, or procarbazine)
• propoxyphene (Darvon®)
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs); for example fluoxetine (Prozac®), sertraline (Zoloft®), paroxetine (Paxil®)
• serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors; for example venlafaxine (Effexor®) and duloxetine (Cymbalta®)
• selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, like atomoxetine (Strattera®)
• sibutramine
• St. John's wort
• tramadol (Ultram®)
• tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs); for example imipramine (Tofranil®) and amitriptyline (Elavil®)
• tryptophan (see below for foods that contain tyramine), valerian, yohimbine, S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM-e) and possibly other herbal supplements

Other medications that Rasagiline may interact with:
• altretamine
• amiodarone
• anagrelide
• caffeine (and certain products that may contain caffeine, such as guarana, green tea, colas and coffee)
• certain anticonvulsant (seizure medications) or barbiturates (for example, phenobarbital)
• cimetidine
• enoxacin
• ethinyl estradiol (often found in birth control pills)
• kava kava, an herbal supplement
• local anesthetics
• mexiletine
• norfloxacin
• opiate agonist (for example, codeine, hydrocodone, morphine)
• pentazocine (Talwin®)
• serotonin-receptor agonists, such as sumatriptan (Imitrex®) or zolmitriptan (Zomig®)
• tacrine
• tizanidine
• zileuton

Tell your prescriber or health care professional about all other medicines you are taking, including non-prescription medicines, nutritional supplements, or herbal products. Also tell your prescriber or health care professional if you are a frequent user of drinks with caffeine or alcohol, if you smoke, or if you use illegal drugs. These may affect the way your medicine works. Check with your health care professional before stopping or starting any of your medicines.

What should I watch for while taking Rasagiline?

Rasagiline, especially when used in combination with levodopa, may worsen body shaking or other abnormal movements you may have. If this occurs, contact your health care provider. Your dose may need to be adjusted.

You may get dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use machinery, or do anything that needs mental alertness until you know how this medicine affects you. If you feel dizzy while using this medicine, get up or change position very slowly to help avoid fainting. Alcohol can increase dizziness and drowsiness. Avoid alcoholic drinks.

You may get a dry mouth when using this medicine. To relieve your dry mouth, you may suck on hard candies (sugar-free if needed) or drink extra fluids.

This medicine can interact with certain foods that have tyramine. It can cause severe headaches, a rise in blood pressure, or irregular heart beat. Foods that have significant amounts of tyramine include aged cheeses; meats and fish (especially aged, smoked, pickled, or processed, like bologna, pepperoni, salami, summer sausage); beer and ale; alcohol-free beer; wine (especially red); sherry; hard liquor; liqueurs; avocados; bananas; figs; raisins; soy sauce; miso soup; yeast/protein extracts; bean curd; fava or broad bean pods; or any over-ripe fruit. Also, avoid drinks that have caffeine, like tea, coffee, chocolate, or cola. Ask your prescriber or health care professional, pharmacist, or nutritionist for a complete listing of foods to be limited or avoided. Avoid these foods and beverages for 2 weeks after you stop using rasagiline.

This medication can interact with many medications, including non-prescription (OTC) drugs. It is important to have a health care professional review your prescriptions each time you start a new medication. Do not treat yourself for coughs, colds, flu or allergies without asking your prescriber or health care professional for advice. Do not take any medications for weight loss without advice either. Some ingredients in these products may increase possible side effects.

If you notice a changing mole on your skin, or other new skin lesion or ulcer, contact your health care provider immediately.

Notify your health care professional if you are scheduled to have any surgery or medical tests or procedures (including myelography). You should usually stop taking this drug at least 10 days before elective surgery; tell your prescriber or health care professional that you have been taking Rasagiline.

What side effects may I notice from receiving Rasagiline?

Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:
• abnormal and involuntary movements of your body; worsened shaking or tremors; tingling in fingers or toes
• confusion
• continued abnormal dreams or frequent nightmares
• depressed mood or continued sadness
• fever
• hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not really there)
• a quick rise in your blood pressure
• loss of memory
• severe or frequent headaches
• skin lesion or ulcer; a mole thats changing in appearance or color
• skin rash or itching
• unsteadiness, dizziness, fainting or falls
• vomiting
• weight loss or continued loss of appetite
• worsened or new difficulty in swallowing or speaking

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
• bruising
• diarrhea or constipation
• drowsiness
• dry mouth
• minor and temporary headache
• muscle pain or cramps
• upset stomach or heartburn

Where can I keep my medicine?

Keep out of the reach of children in a container that small children cannot open.

Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C (59 and 86 degrees F). Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.

Important Disclaimer: The drug information provided here is for educational purposes only. It is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the diagnosis, treatment and advice of a medical professional. This drug information does not cover all possible uses, precautions, side effects and interactions. It should not be construed to indicate that this or any drug is safe for you. Consult your medical professional for guidance before using any prescription or over the counter drugs.