Azilect Cures

Azilect is a prescription medication whose generic name is rasagiline. Azilect is an MAO-B inhibitor, or monoamine oxidase-B inhibitor. This means that it acts upon the brain to increase dopamine levels. This makes it particularly useful for controlling symptoms of Parkinson's disease. If you are taking Azilect for Parkinson's disease, talk to your doctor about using Azilect in conjunction with another medication, levodopa. This combination of drugs may be especially effective.

Precautions

• As with other medications, you'll need to be careful about how you take Azilect. If you have certain pre-existing medical conditions, or if you are taking any other medications, you may be unable to use Azilect. Never use Azilect if you are pregnant. Discuss using Azilect with your doctor if you are breastfeeding. Also don't use Azilect if you have an adrenal gland tumor or liver disease. If you have surgery, inform your surgeon that you are taking Azilect. You'll be unable to use Azilect within two weeks prior to surgery. Many drugs cannot be taken in conjunction with certain medications. With Azilect, however, you'll be unable to take it if you have used certain medications within the last two weeks. These medications include methadone, other MAO inhibitors, propoxyphene, tranylcypromine, St. John's wort, and any drugs or supplements that contain pseudoephedrine, dextromethorphan and phenylephrine.

Diet

• While taking Azilect, you'll need to be careful about what you eat. Foods that are high in tyramine can severely elevate your blood pressure. This can cause side effects that may be life-threatening, such as seizures and sudden numbness. Foods that you'll need to avoid include pickled herring, air-dried meats, salami, sausage, fermented or aged meats, aged cheeses (such as cheddar, camembert, brie, parmesan, romano and swiss), sauerkraut, red wine, unpasteurized beer, beer from a tap, yeast extracts, most forms of soy (tofu, soy beans, miso soup) and any over-the-counter medications or supplements that have tyramine. It may help you to post a list of foods to avoid on your refrigerator. Foods that you may eat include soy milk, fresh meat, processed cheese (as well as ricotta, mozzarella and cottage cheese), white wine, bottled beer, baker's yeast and brewer's yeast.

Warnings

• Generally, Azilect patients find they can tolerate the medication well. However, keep a record of any side effects you do experience so that you can discuss them with your doctor. Some side effects may include indigestion, headache and joint pain. If you take Azilect with levodopa, you may also experience uncontrolled movements, constipation, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, weight loss and accidental injury. If you have severe side effects, seek emergency medical help. These symptoms may include blurred vision, confusion, chest pain, convulsions, severe headache, fever, sudden weakness or numbness, hallucinations, skin rash and fainting.