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Prescription Selegiline for Parkinson's Disease

Selegiline hydrochloride is a medication prescribed to help decrease symptoms of Parkinson's disease, a nervous system disorder that causes difficulty with movement and muscle control. Selegiline is used for Parkinson's patients taking a combination of the drugs levodopa and carbidopa.

  1. Identification

    • Selegiline is categorized as a monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) inhibitor. It increases the amount of dopamine in the brain.

    Function

    • Levodopa is a very effective medication for Parkinson's, but it causes negative side effects, some serious and irreversible. Carbidopa lessens these effects, and Selegiline assists further by allowing some patients to decrease levodopa dosage, and by increasing the length of time that levodopa and carbidopa are effective.

    Features

    • Selegiline is available in regular tablets, dissolving tablets and capsules. The medicine is taken daily, but dosage and number of times the patient takes it varies.

    Side Effects

    • Many side effects are associated with Selegiline. They include dizziness, fainting, sleepiness, dry mouth, diarrhea or constipation, gas, heartburn, nausea, stomach pain, back or muscle pain and insomnia.

    Warning

    • Although they are uncommon, selegiline is linked to some severe side effects. They include hallucinations, uncontrollable movements and an increased risk of suicidal thinking and behavior. Stopping the medication abruptly can cause withdrawal symptoms.

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