Azilect (Rasagiline)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs):

What is Azilect?

Azilect is a prescription medicine used to treat a nervous system disorder called Parkinson’s disease. It contains the active ingredient rasagiline and belongs to a class of drugs called Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. This medicine works by increasing the levels of the chemical dopamine in the brain that is involved in movement control.

Azilect should not be used in children and adolescents under 18 years of age.

Uses and Benefits of Azilect

Parkinson's disease: Parkinson's disease is a nervous system disorder that leads to tremors, slow movement, stiffness, and loss of balance. Parkinson's disease is caused by the death of nerve cells that produce dopamine in the brain. Dopamine plays an important role in regulating body movements.

Azilect is used alone or in combination with other medications to control the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. It improves tremors, stiffness, and movement in the patients.

Side Effects of Azilect

Patients taking Azilect may experience some common side effects, including:

• headache, low blood pressure, chest pain, dizziness

• abdominal pain, constipation, dry mouth

• low appetite, decreased weight

• involuntary movements, balance disorder

• weakness, numbness, and pain in muscles

• joint pain, arthritis

• allergy, runny nose

• depression

Azilect may cause adverse side effects, including:

• agitation, hallucinations, fever, tremor, sweating

• worsening of Parkinson’s symptoms

• compulsions, uncontrollable thoughts

• excessive gambling, and shopping

• impulsive behavior, high sex drive

• skin rash, difficulty breathing, swelling on face, tongue, or throat

• fast heart rate, severe headache, drowsiness, blurred vision

• muscle stiffness, twitching, and loss of coordination

How to use Azilect?

Azilect is available as tablets in two strengths: 0.5 mg and 1 mg. Take Azilect tablets orally with or without food as prescribed by your doctor.

The recommended dose of Azilect is:

• 1 mg tablet once daily

• 0.5 mg tablet once daily in combination with levodopa

Always take your medications at the same time to get maximum benefits. If you forget to take a dose of Azilect, take the next dose at the usual time. Do not stop taking the drug or change the dose without consulting your doctor. If you have accidentally taken too many tablets, contact your doctor immediately.

Drug Interactions

Azilect may interact with other drugs when administered together. It may change the working of the drugs and increase the risk of severe reactions in the body. Before starting Azilect, tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, especially:

• Other MAO inhibitors

• Antidepressants such as fluoxetine, fluvoxamine

• Opioid painkillers such as meperidine and pethidine

• Antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin

• Cold and cough medicines such as dextromethorphan

• Sympathomimetics medicines

• Dopamine antagonists such as antipsychotics

• St. John's Wort

Safety Information

• Do not take Azilect if you are allergic to any of its active or inactive ingredients.

• Before starting the medicine, tell your doctor if you have had health conditions including liver problems, depression, difficulty passing urine, high blood pressure, irregular/fast heartbeats, and serotonin syndrome.

• Talk to your doctor immediately if you notice any skin changes as this medicine may increase the risk of skin cancer.

• Do not drive and use heavy machines after taking Azilect. This medicine can make you dizzy or can cause you to suddenly fall asleep.

• Do not smoke or drink alcohol during the treatment.

• Talk to your doctor about the safety of Azilect if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding.

• Patients taking Azilect must be carefully observed for compulsions and obsessive behavior.

• Patients should wait at least 2 weeks after stopping Azilect and starting other MAO inhibitors.

• Patients should wait at least 5 weeks after stopping fluoxetine or fluvoxamine and starting treatment with Azilect.

Reference:

• https://www.rxlist.com/azilect-drug.htm#interactions

• https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-144443/azilect-oral/details

• https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/azilect-epar-product-information_en.pdf