About AZILECT Therapy

 

Once-daily AZILECT is effective and generally well tolerated at diagnosis and at initial signs of wearing off.

 
 
  • Once-daily AZILECT is an irreversible MAO-B inhibitor that prevents dopamine breakdown in the brain1
  • AZILECT is the first and only MAO-B inhibitor indicated as both initial monotherapy and adjunct therapy for the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease1
  • AZILECT is the first once-daily Parkinson’s disease therapy2
  • AZILECT has a novel chemical structure without amphetamine metabolites1,3,4 
  • AZILECT was five times more potent in inhibiting MAO-B in preclinical studies5†
  • AZILECT is metabolized by CYP1A2 rather than CYP2B6 and CYP2C19 liver isoenzymes1,6
  • AZILECT has been studied in 4 large, double-blind, placebo-controlled studies1,7-10

*Recommended initial dose as adjunct therapy is 0.5 mg administered once daily. If a sufficient clinical response is not achieved, the dose may be increased to 1 mg administered once daily.

†The clinical relevance is unknown. 

Please see important safety information and complete prescribing information. 

Learn more about the indications of AZILECT for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

REFERENCES
1. AZILECT Prescribing Information.
2. Waters CH. Diagnosis and Management of Parkinson's Disease. 3rd ed. West Islip, NY: Professional Communications, Inc.; 2002.
3. Lamensdorf I, Youdim MBH, Finberg JPM. Effect of long-term treatment with selective monoamine oxidase A and B inhibitors on dopamine release from rat striatum in vivo. J Neurochem. 1996;67(4):1532-1539.
4. Finberg JPM, Youdim MBH. Pharmacological properties of the anti-Parkinson drug rasagiline; modification of endogenous brain amines, reserpine reversal, serotonergic and dopaminergic behaviours. Neuropharmacology. 2002;43(7):1110-1118.
5. Finberg JPM, Lamensdorf I, Commissiong JW, Youdim MBH. Pharmacology and neuroprotective properties of rasagiline. J Neural Transm Suppl. 1996;48:95-101.
6. Hidestrand M, Oscarson M, Salonen JS, et al. CYP2B6 and CYP2C19 as the major enzymes responsible for the metabolism of selegiline, a drug used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, as revealed from experiments with recombinant enzymes. Drug Metab Dispos. 2001;29(11):1480-1484.
7. The Parkinson Study Group. A controlled trial of rasagiline in early Parkinson disease. The TEMPO study. Arch Neurol. 2002;59(12):1937-1943.
8. Data on file, Teva Neuroscience, Inc.
9. The Parkinson Study Group. A randomized placebo-controlled trial of rasagiline in levodopa-treated patients with Parkinson disease and motor fluctuations. The PRESTO study. Arch Neurol. 2005;62:241-248.
10. Rascol O, Brooks DJ, Melamed E, et al. Rasagiline as an adjunct to levodopa in patients with Parkinson's disease and motor fluctuations (LARGO, Lasting effect in Adjunct therapy with Rasagiline Given Once daily, study): a randomised, double-blind, parallel-group trial. Lancet. 2005;365(9463):947-954.



 

AZL101023768/101245

 

AZILECT (rasagiline tablets) is indicated for the treatment of the signs and symptoms of idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease (PD) as initial monotherapy and as adjunct therapy to levodopa.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT AZILECT

Azilect is contraindicated with meperidine; the analgesics tramadol, methadone, and propoxyphene; the antitussive agent dextromethorphan; as well as St. John’s wort and cyclobenzaprine. Azilect is also contraindicated with other MAOIs.

In general, the combination of Azilect and antidepressants should be avoided. Caution should be used when giving Azilect concurrently with CYP1A2 inhibitors such as ciprofloxacin. Patients with moderate to severe hepatic impairment should not take Azilect. The daily dose of Azilect should not exceed 1 mg because of the risks associated with nonselective inhibition of MAO. PD patients are advised to monitor for melanoma frequently and see a dermatologist on a regular basis.

The most common side effects as monotherapy include: flu syndrome, arthralgia, depression, and dyspepsia; and as adjunct to levodopa therapy include: dyskinesia, accidental injury, weight loss, postural hypotension, vomiting, anorexia, arthralgia, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, dry mouth, rash, abnormal dreams, and fall.

AZL101023762/101241