Selegiline

The recommended adult dose of selegiline is 5 mg taken twice a day with breakfast and lunch.

Do not take Selegiline later in the day because it may interfere with sleep. Do not use doses higher than this, as there is increased risk of side effects at higher doses and no evidence that there is any greater effect of the medication.

Many things can affect the dose of medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones given here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is important to take Selegiline exactly as prescribed by your doctor. If you miss a dose of Selegiline, take it as soon as possible. If you do not remember your dose until late afternoon or evening, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store Selegiline at room temperature, protect it from light, and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

In addition to its desired action, this medication may cause some adverse effects, notably: it may cause dryness of the mouth; it may cause confusion; it may cause stomach ache; it may cause dizziness - use caution when getting up from a lying or sitting position and use caution if driving; it may cause nausea or, rarely, vomiting. Each person may react differently to a treatment. If you think this medication may be causing adverse effects (including those described here, or others), talk to your health care professional. He or she can help you to determine whether or not the medication is the source of the problem.

Selegiline by Pharmel is no longer being manufactured for sale in Canada. For brands that may still be available, search under selegiline. This article is being kept available for reference purposes only. If you are using Selegiline, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for information about your treatment options.

Do not take selegiline if you:

• are allergic to selegiline or to any of the ingredients of the medication
• are taking the medication called Meperidine (and possibly other narcotic pain relievers, such as Tramadol, Methadone, or propoxyphene)
• have active peptic ulcers
• have a problem such as excessive tremor or involuntary movements of the muscles of the face
• have severe psychosis or severe Dementia

There may be an interaction between selegiline and any of the following:

• alcohol
• Aldesleukin
• Aliskiren
• alpha agonists (e.g., Clonidine, methyldopa)
• alpha/beta agonists (e.g., Epinephrine, norepinephrine)
• alpha blockers (e.g., Alfuzosin, Doxazosin, Tamsulosin)
• amphetamines (e.g., Dextroamphetamine, Lisdexamfetamine)
• angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs; Captopril, Enalapril, Ramipril)
• angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs; e.g., Candesartan, Losartan, Irbesartan)
• antipsychotics (e.g., Chlorpromazine, Clozapine, Haloperidol, Olanzapine, Quetiapine, Risperidone)
• Atomoxetine
• atropine
• barbiturates (e.g., butalbital, pentobarbital Phenobarbital)
• beta-adrenergic blockers (e.g., Atenolol, Propranolol, Sotalol)
• beta 2 agonists (e.g., salbutamol, formoterol, terbutaline)
• Betahistine
• Bezafibrate
• birth control pills
• brimonidine
• Bromocriptine
• Bupropion
• Buspirone
• Cabergoline
• calcium channel blockers (e.g., Amlodipine, Diltiazem, Nifedipine, Verapamil)
• Carbamazepine
• conivaptan
• Cyclobenzaprine
• Dabrafenib
• Dextromethorphan
• Diabetes medications (e.g., chlorpropamide, glipizide, Glyburide, insulin, Metformin, Rosiglitazone)
• diphenoxylate
• Disopyramide
• diuretics (water pills; e.g., Furosemide, Hydrochlorothiazide, triamterene)
• Domperidone
• efavirenz
• Entacapone
• ergot alkaloids (e.g., ergotamine, Dihydroergotamine)
• Guanfacine
• Lanreotide
• levodopa
• Linezolid
• lithium
• methadone
• Metoclopramide
• mifepristone
• Minoxidil
• Mirtazapine
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs; e.g., Moclobemide, Rasagiline, Tranylcypromine)
• narcotic pain relievers (e.g., Codeine, Fentanyl, Morphine, Oxycodone)
• nefazodone
• nevirapine
• Nilotinib
• nitrates (e.g., Nitroglycerin, isosorbide dinitrate, isosorbide mononitrate)
• Octreotide
• Oxcarbazepine
• Pasireotide
• pentamidine
• Pentoxifylline
• phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (e.g., Sildenafil, Tadalafil, Vardenafil)
• quinine
• rifampin
• ritonavir
• Ropinirole
• St. John's wort
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs; e.g., Fluoxetine, Fluvoxamine, Paroxetine)
• serotonin antagonists (anti-emetic medications; e.g., Granisetron, Ondansetron, Palonosetron)
• serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI antidepressants; e.g., Venlafaxine)
• somatostatin
• sulfonamide antibiotics ('sulfas'; e.g., sulfisoxazole, sulfamethoxazole)
• Sunitinib
• Tapentadol
• Tetrabenazine
• Tizanidine
• tolcapone
• tramadol
• Trazodone
• tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., Amitriptyline, Doxepin, Nortriptyline)
• 'triptan' migraine medications (e.g., Eletriptan, Rizatriptan, Sumatriptan)
• Tryptophan

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than the ones listed above may interact with Selegiline. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications that you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Selegiline.

Antidepressant medication: Severe reactions are possible when selegiline is combined with tricyclic antidepressants or serotonin reuptake inhibitors, medications used to treat depression. The combination of selegiline and antidepressants from these groups must be avoided. Symptoms of a reaction may include muscle rigidity and spasms, difficulty moving, and changes in mental state including delirium and agitation. Coma and death are also possible.

If you take any of these medications or have taken antidepressants recently, discuss with your doctor how Selegiline may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Selegiline, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Headache: If you experiencing a severe headache or other unusual symptoms while taking selegiline, report them to a doctor immediately.

Levodopa: Some people who take selegiline may experience a worsening of levodopa-associated side effects, such as unusual movements of the body. Report these effects to your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor may help with these effects by reducing the dose of levodopa.

Liver function: People taking selegiline may have changes in liver function that produce abnormal liver test results. Your doctor may recommend regular liver tests while you are taking Selegiline.

Maximum dose: Do not exceed the recommended daily dose of 10 mg of selegiline.

Pregnancy: Selegiline should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. If you become pregnant while taking Selegiline, contact your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if selegiline passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Selegiline, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of using Selegiline have not been established for children.

This medication is typically used twice a day. However, your pharmacist may have suggested a different schedule that is more appropriate for you. Take it regularly and continuously to maintain its beneficial effects. Important: Follow the instructions on the label. Do not use more of this product, or more often, than prescribed. If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember -- unless it is almost time for your next dose. In that case, skip the missed dose. Do not double the next dose to catch up. This medication may irritate the stomach, and should be taken with food. It is best to avoid coffee, spicy food or alcohol. Consuming alcohol may intensify the effect of this product. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Talk to your health care professional to find out exactly how much alcohol you can drink.