Eldepryl

Generic name: selegiline (oral)

Brand names: Eldepryl, Zelapar
Drug classes: Dopaminergic antiparkinsonism agents, Monoamine oxidase inhibitors

What is Eldepryl?

Eldepryl is a prescription medicine that is used to treat Parkinson’s disease. Eldepryl may be given to you for other reasons.

Description

ELDEPRYL (selegiline hydrochloride) is a levorotatory acetylenic derivative of phenethylamine. It is commonly referred to in the clinical and pharmacological literature as l-deprenyl.

The chemical name is: (R)-(-)-N,2-dimethyl-N-2-propynylphenethylamine hydrochloride. It is a white to near white crystalline powder, freely soluble in water, chloroform, and methanol, and has a molecular weight of 223.75. The structural formula is as follows:

Each aqua blue capsule is band imprinted with the Somerset logo on the cap and “Eldepryl (selegiline hcl) 5 mg” on the body. Each capsule contains 5 mg selegiline hydrochloride. Inactive ingredients are citric acid, lactose, magnesium stearate, and microcrystalline cellulose.

Before taking Eldepryl, tell your doctor:

• If you are allergic to Eldepryl; any part of this medicine; or any other drugs, foods, or substances. Tell your doctor about the allergy and what signs you had.
• If you have an adrenal gland tumor called pheochromocytoma.
• If you are using another drug that has the same drug in it.
• If you take any drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) that must not be taken with Eldepryl, like certain drugs that are used for low mood (depression) or other mood problems, pain, seizures, weight loss, and the common cold. There are many drugs that must not be taken with Eldepryl.
• If you have taken certain drugs used for low mood (depression) like isocarboxazid, phenelzine, or tranylcypromine or drugs used for Parkinson’s disease like rasagiline in the last 14 days. Taking Eldepryl within 14 days of those drugs can cause very bad high blood pressure.
• If you have taken fluoxetine within the last 5 weeks. Do not start Eldepryl if you have taken fluoxetine within the last 5 weeks.
• If you have any of these health problems: Kidney disease or liver disease.
• If you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed.

This is not a list of all drugs or health problems that interact with this medicine.

Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems. You must check to make sure that it is safe for you to take Eldepryl with all of your drugs and health problems. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any drug without checking with your doctor.

What are some things I need to know or do while I take Eldepryl?

• Tell all of your health care providers that you take Eldepryl. This includes your doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists.
• Avoid driving and doing other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert until you see how Eldepryl affects you.
• To lower the chance of feeling dizzy or passing out, rise slowly if you have been sitting or lying down. Be careful going up and down stairs.
• Do not stop taking Eldepryl all of a sudden without calling your doctor. You may have a greater risk of side effects. If you need to stop Eldepryl, you will want to slowly stop it as ordered by your doctor.
• Check blood pressure and heart rate as the doctor has told you.
• Some foods and drinks, like cheese and red wine, may cause sudden, severe high blood pressure when you are taking Eldepryl. This effect can be deadly. Talk with your doctor about your risk for this effect. Get a list of foods and drinks to avoid. Avoid these foods and drinks for as long as your doctor has told you after Eldepryl is stopped.
• The chance of a type of skin cancer called melanoma may be raised in people with Parkinson’s disease. It is not known if Eldepryl may also raise the chance. Have skin exams while you take Eldepryl. Talk with your doctor.
• Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Eldepryl.
• Some people taking the oral form of Eldepryl have fallen asleep during activities like driving, eating, or talking. Some people did not feel sleepy and felt alert right before falling asleep. This has happened up to 1 year after Eldepryl was started. If you fall asleep during activities, do not drive or do other tasks or actions that call for you to be alert while you take Eldepryl. Call your doctor right away if this happens or you feel very sleepy.
• A severe and sometimes deadly problem called serotonin syndrome may happen if you take Eldepryl with certain other drugs. Call your doctor right away if you have agitation; change in balance; confusion; hallucinations; fever; fast or abnormal heartbeat; flushing; muscle twitching or stiffness; seizures; shivering or shaking; sweating a lot; severe diarrhea, upset stomach, or throwing up; or severe headache.
• If you are 65 or older, use Eldepryl with care. You could have more side effects.
• Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan on getting pregnant. You will need to talk about the benefits and risks of using Eldepryl while you are pregnant.

How is Eldepryl best taken?

Use Eldepryl as ordered by your doctor. Read all information given to you. Follow all instructions closely.

• Take Eldepryl with food.
• Keep using Eldepryl as you have been told by your doctor or other health care provider, even if you feel well.

What do I do if I miss a dose?

• Take a missed dose as soon as you think about it.
• If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your normal time.
• Do not take 2 doses at the same time or extra doses.

What are the side effects of Eldepryl that I need to call my doctor about immediately?

WARNING/CAUTION: Even though it may be rare, some people may have very bad and sometimes deadly side effects when taking a drug. Tell your doctor or get medical help right away if you have any of the following signs or symptoms that may be related to a very bad side effect:

• Signs of an allergic reaction, like rash; hives; itching; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin with or without fever; wheezing; tightness in the chest or throat; trouble breathing, swallowing, or talking; unusual hoarseness; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, tongue, or throat.
• Signs of high or low blood pressure like very bad headache or dizziness, passing out, or change in eyesight.
• Trouble controlling body movements, twitching, change in balance, trouble swallowing or speaking.
• Shakiness, trouble moving around, or stiffness.
• Feeling confused.
• Mental, mood, or behavior changes that are new or worse.
• Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there).
• Strong urges that are hard to control (such as eating, gambling, sex, or spending money).
• A skin lump or growth.
• Change in color or size of a mole.
• Shortness of breath.
• Muscle pain or weakness.
• Neck stiffness.
• Chest pain or pressure.
• Fast, slow, or abnormal heartbeat.
• Sweating a lot.
• Larger pupils.
• If bright lights bother your eyes.
• Weakness on 1 side of the body, trouble speaking or thinking, change in balance, drooping on one side of the face, or blurred eyesight.

What are some other side effects of Eldepryl?

All drugs may cause side effects. However, many people have no side effects or only have minor side effects. Call your doctor or get medical help if any of these side effects or any other side effects bother you or do not go away:

• Dizziness.
• Feeling sleepy.
• Headache.
• Dry mouth.
• Upset stomach or throwing up.
• Trouble sleeping.
• Diarrhea or constipation.
• Nose or throat irritation.
• Back pain.
• Runny or stuffy nose.

These are not all of the side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, call your doctor. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-332-1088. You may also report side effects at https://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If overdose is suspected:

If you think there has been an overdose, call your poison control center or get medical care right away. Be ready to tell or show what was taken, how much, and when it happened.

How do I store and/or throw out Eldepryl?

• Store at room temperature.
• Store in a dry place. Do not store in a bathroom.
• Keep all drugs in a safe place. Keep all drugs out of the reach of children and pets.
• Throw away unused or expired drugs. Do not flush down a toilet or pour down a drain unless you are told to do so. Check with your pharmacist if you have questions about the best way to throw out drugs. There may be drug take-back programs in your area.

SRC: NLM .