Eldepryl

Generic name: Selegiline (oral)

Usage of Eldepryl

Eldepryl prevents the breakdown of a chemical in your brain called dopamine. Low levels of dopamine are associated with Parkinson's disease.

Eldepryl capsules are used together with Levodopa and Carbidopa to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Eldepryl may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Eldepryl side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction to Eldepryl: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have:

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

trouble breathing;

confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior;

increased tremors or uncontrolled muscle movements;

worsening side effects of your other medications;

high levels of serotonin in the body (when taken with an antidepressant) - agitation, fever, fast heart rate, overactive reflexes, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of coordination, fainting; or

dangerously high blood pressure - severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, severe chest pain, shortness of breath, pounding heartbeats, or seizure (convulsions).

You may have increased sexual urges, unusual urges to gamble, or other intense urges while taking this medicine. Talk with your doctor if this occurs.

Common Eldepryl side effects may include:

dizziness;

nausea, stomach pain, constipation;

skin rash or other irritation;

sleep problems (insomnia); or

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Eldepryl

You should not use Eldepryl if you are allergic to Selegiline, or if you have taken fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem and others) within the past 5 weeks.

Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used with Eldepryl. Your doctor may need to change your treatment plan if you use any of the following drugs:

cough medicine that contains Dextromethorphan;

cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril);

Meperidine (Demerol) or other narcotic (opioid) pain medicine;

methadone;

St. John's wort;

tramadol (Ultram, Ultracet);

an antidepressant - citalopram, Desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, escitalopram, fluvoxamine, Levomilnacipran, milnacipran, mirtazapine, Nefazodone, Paroxetine, venlafaxine, vilazodone, vortioxetine, and others; or

an MAO inhibitor - isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, tranylcypromine, and others.

After you stop taking Eldepryl, you must wait at least 14 days before taking any of the medications listed above.

To make sure Eldepryl is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

liver or kidney disease;

high blood pressure; or

People with Parkinson's disease may have a higher risk of skin cancer (melanoma). Talk to your doctor about this risk and what skin symptoms to watch for.

It is not known whether Eldepryl will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

It is not known whether selegiline passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How to use Eldepryl

Take Eldepryl exactly as it was prescribed for you. all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor's advice.

Eldepryl capsules are usually taken twice a day, at breakfast and lunch. Follow your doctor's instructions.

While you are using Eldepryl and for 14 days after you stop, you must not eat foods listed in the "What should I avoid?" section of this leaflet. Eating these foods while you are using selegiline can raise your blood pressure to dangerous levels.

Foods that you MAY eat include:

fresh meat, poultry, or fish (including lunch meat, hot dogs, breakfast sausage, and cooked sliced ham);

any vegetables except broad bean pods (fava beans);

processed cheese, mozzarElla, ricotta, cottage cheese;

pizza made with cheeses low in tyramine;

soy milk, yogurt; or

Brewer's or baker's yeast.

Do not stop taking Eldepryl suddenly or you may have harmful side effects. For best results, keep taking the medicine as prescribed.

Store this medicine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Warnings

Serious drug interactions can occur when certain medicines are used together with Eldepryl. Tell each of your healthcare providers about all medicines you use now, and any medicine you start or stop using.

While taking Eldepryl, do not drink alcohol or eat foods that are high in tyramine, listed in the "What should I avoid while using Eldepryl?" section of this leaflet. Eating tyramine while you are using selegiline can raise your blood pressure to dangerous levels and cause life-threatening symptoms.

Do not stop taking Eldepryl suddenly or you may have harmful side effects. Keep taking the medicine as prescribed. Talk with your doctor before stopping the medication.

You may have increased sexual urges, unusual urges to gamble, or other intense urges while taking this medication. Talk with your doctor if you believe you have any intense or unusual urges while taking Eldepryl.

What other drugs will affect Eldepryl

Many drugs can interact with selegiline, and some drugs should not be used together. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide. Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with Eldepryl. Give a list of all your medicines to any healthcare provider who treats you.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.