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Selegiline Hydrochloride

FDA Drug Information • Also known as: Selegiline Hydrochloride, Zelapar

Brand Names
Selegiline Hydrochloride, Zelapar
Route
ORAL
Dosage Form
TABLET
Product Type
HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG

Description

11 DESCRIPTION ZELAPAR Orally Disintegrating Tablets contain selegiline hydrochloride, a levorotatory acetylenic derivative of phenethylamine. Selegiline hydrochloride is described chemically as: (-)-(R)-N, α-dimethyl-N-2-propynylphenethylamine hydrochloride and its structural formula is: Its empirical formula is C 13 H 17 N ∙ HCl, representing a molecular weight of 223.74. Selegiline hydrochloride is a white to almost white crystalline powder that is freely soluble in water and in methanol, slightly soluble in acetone. ZELAPAR Orally Disintegrating Tablets are available for oral administration ( not to be swallowed) in a strength of 1.25 mg. Each lyophilized orally disintegrating tablet contains the following inactive ingredients: aspartame, citric acid, gelatin, glycine, mannitol, opatint yellow, purified water, and grapefruit flavor. chem

What Is Selegiline Hydrochloride Used For?

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE ZELAPAR is indicated as an adjunct in the management of patients with Parkinson’s disease being treated with levodopa/carbidopa who exhibit deterioration in the quality of their response to this therapy. There is no evidence from controlled studies that ZELAPAR has any beneficial effect in the absence of concurrent levodopa therapy [see Clinical Studies (14 ) ]. ZELAPAR, a monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) inhibitor, is indicated as an adjunct in the management of patients with Parkinson’s disease being treated with levodopa/carbidopa who exhibit deterioration in the quality of their response to this therapy ( 1 )

Dosage and Administration

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION

  • Initiate treatment with 1.25 mg given once a day for at least 6 weeks; after 6 weeks, the dose may be escalated to 2.5 mg once a day (2.1 )
  • Place tablet on top of the tongue where the tablet will disintegrate in seconds; avoid food and liquid intake 5 minutes before and after each dose (2.1 )
  • In patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment, the dose should be reduced to 1.25 mg; ZELAPAR is not recommended in patients with severe (Child-Pugh score >9) hepatic impairment ( 2.2 ) 2.1 General Dosage Recommendations Initiate treatment with 1.25 mg given once a day for at least 6 weeks. After 6 weeks, the dose may be increased to 2.5 mg given once a day if a desired benefit has not been achieved and the patient is tolerating ZELAPAR. There is no evidence that doses greater than 2.5 mg a day provide additional benefit, and they should ordinarily be avoided because of the potential increased risk of adverse events. Take ZELAPAR in the morning before breakfast and without liquid. Patients should avoid ingesting food or liquids for 5 minutes before and after taking ZELAPAR. Patients should not attempt to push ZELAPAR through the foil backing. Patients should PEEL BACK the backing of one or two blisters (as prescribed) with dry hands, and GENTLY remove the tablet(s). Patients should IMMEDIATELY place the ZELAPAR tablet(s) on top of the tongue where it will disintegrate in seconds. 2.2 Patients with Hepatic Impairment In patients with mild to moderate hepatic disease (Child-Pugh score 5 to 9), the daily dose of ZELAPAR should be reduced (from 2.5 to 1.25 mg daily), depending on the clinical response. ZELAPAR is not recommended in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh score greater than 9) [see Use in Specific Populations (8.6) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. 2.3 Patients with Renal Impairment No dose adjustment of ZELAPAR is required in patients with mild to moderate renal impairment (creatinine clearance [CLcr] 30 to 89 mL/min). The maintenance dose of ZELAPAR (1.25 mg or 2.5 mg) is determined by the individual clinical response. ZELAPAR is not recommended in patients with severe renal impairment and patients with end-stage renal disease [ESRD] (creatinine clearance [CLcr] <30 mL/min) [see Use in Specific Populations (8.7) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].

    • Side Effects (Adverse Reactions)

    6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following adverse reactions are discussed in more detail in the Warnings and Precautions section of labeling:

  • Risk for Hypertension [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]
  • Risk of Serotonin Syndrome [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ]
  • Falling Asleep During Activities of Daily Living and Somnolence [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ]
  • Hypotension/Orthostatic Hypotension [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) ]
  • Dyskinesia [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ]
  • Hallucinations/Psychotic-Like Behavior [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6) ]
  • Impulse Control/Compulsive Behaviors [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ]
  • Withdrawal Emergent Hyperpyrexia and Confusion [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ]
  • Irritation of the Buccal Mucosa [see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) ]
  • Risk for Patients with Phenylketonuria [see Warnings and Precautions (5.10) ] The most common adverse reactions (incidence at least 3% greater than on placebo) are constipation, skin disorders, vomiting, dizziness, dyskinesia, insomnia, dyspnea, myalgia, and rash (6.1) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Bausch Health US, LLC at 1-800-321-4576 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, the incidence of adverse reactions (number of unique patients experiencing an adverse reaction per total number of patients treated) observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the incidence of adverse reactions observed in clinical practice. Because the controlled trials performed during premarketing development both used a titration design (1.25 mg per day for 6 weeks, followed by 2.5 mg per day for 6 weeks), with a resultant confounding of time and dose, it was impossible to adequately evaluate the effects of dose on the incidence of adverse reactions. The most common adverse reactions (treatment difference incidence at least 3% greater than placebo incidence) reported in the double-blind, placebo-controlled trials during ZELAPAR treatment were constipation, skin disorders, vomiting, dizziness, dyskinesia, insomnia, dyspnea, myalgia, and rash (see Table 1 ). Of the 194 patients treated with ZELAPAR in the double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, 5% discontinued due to adverse reactions compared to 1% of the 98 patients who received placebo. Most common adverse reactions causing discontinuation of treatment included dizziness, chest pain, accidental injury, and myasthenia. Incidence in Controlled Clinical Trials Table 1 lists the adverse reactions reported in the placebo-controlled trials after at least one dose of ZELAPAR (incidence 2% or greater). Table 1: Adverse Reactions Patients may have reported multiple adverse experiences during the study or at discontinuation; thus patients may be included in more than one category. in Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trials with an Incidence ≥2% of Patients Treated with ZELAPAR and More Frequent than the Placebo Group Body System/ Adverse Event ZELAPAR 1.25/2.5 mg N=194 % Placebo N=98 % Body as a Whole Pain 8 7 Back Pain 5 3 Chest Pain 2 0 Cardiovascular System Hypertension 3 2 Digestive System Nausea 11 9 Stomatitis 5 4 Dyspepsia 5 3 Constipation 4 0 Vomiting 3 0 Diarrhea 2 1 Dysphagia 2 1 Flatulence 2 1 Tooth Disorder 2 1 Hemic and Lymphatic System Ecchymosis 2 0 Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders Hypokalemia 2 0 Musculoskeletal System Leg Cramps 3 1 Myalgia 3 0 Nervous System Dizziness 11 8 Headache 7 6 Insomnia 7 4 Dyskinesia 6 3 Dry Mouth 4 2 Hallucinations 4 2 Somnolence 3 2 Tremor 3 1 Ataxia 3 1 Depression 2 1 Respiratory System Pharyngitis 4 2 Rhinitis 7 6 Dyspnea 3 0 Skin and Appendages Rash 4 1 Skin Disorders Skin disorders represent any new skin abnormality that would not be characterized as rash or neoplastic lesion. These include events such as skin ulcer, fungal dermatitis, skin...

    • Drug Interactions

    7 DRUG INTERACTIONS 7.1 Opioid Drugs Because serious, sometimes fatal reactions have been precipitated with concomitant use of opioid drugs (e.g., meperidine and its derivatives, methadone, or tramadol) and MAOIs, including selective MAO-B inhibitors, concomitant use of these drugs with ZELAPAR is contraindicated [see Contraindications (4) and Warnings and Precautions (5.2)] . At least 14 days should elapse between discontinuation of ZELAPAR and initiation of treatment with these drugs. 7.2 Dextromethorphan The combination of MAO inhibitors and dextromethorphan has been reported to cause brief episodes of psychosis or bizarre behavior. Therefore, in view of ZELAPAR’s MAO inhibitory activity, dextromethorphan should not be used concomitantly with ZELAPAR [see Contraindications (4) ]. 7.3 MAO Inhibitors ZELAPAR is contraindicated for concomitant use with other drugs in the MAOI class or other drugs that are potent inhibitors of monoamine oxidase (including linezolid, an oxazolidinone antibacterial, which also has reversible nonselective MAO inhibition activity) because of the increased risk for hypertensive crisis [see Contraindications (4) and Warnings and Precautions (5.1 ) ] . At least 14 days should elapse between discontinuation of ZELAPAR and initiation of treatment with other MAOIs. 7.4 Sympathomimetic Medications Uncontrolled hypertension, including hypertensive crisis, has been reported when taking the recommended dose of swallowed selegiline and a sympathomimetic medication (ephedrine). 7.5 Tyramine/Selegiline Interaction The enzyme, monoamine oxidase (MAO) (primarily type A), in the gastrointestinal tract and liver provides protection from ingested amines (e.g., tyramine) that, if absorbed, have the capacity to cause uncontrolled hypertension (tyramine reaction). If MAO is inhibited in the gastrointestinal tract and liver, ingestion of exogenous amines contained in some foods such as fermented cheese, herring, or over-the-counter cough/cold medicines may be absorbed systemically causing release of norepinephrine and a rise in systemic blood pressure with the potential for uncontrolled hypertension. Selective MAO-B inhibitors lose their selectivity for MAO-B when taken in doses higher than recommended . Non-selective MAO-A inhibitors or MAO-B inhibitors in higher than recommended doses may result in MAO-A inhibition in the gastrointestinal tract and liver. Results of a tyramine challenge study indicate that ZELAPAR is relatively selective for MAO-B at the recommended dose. In most cases, there is no need for dietary tyramine restriction in patients prescribed ZELAPAR [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.2) ] at the recommended dose. Because the selectivity for inhibiting MAO-B diminishes as the dose of ZELAPAR is increased above the recommended daily dose, patients should not take more than 2.5 mg of ZELAPAR daily. Reports of hypertensive reactions have occurred in patients who ingested tyramine-containing consumables (i.e., food or drink)...

    Contraindications

    4 CONTRAINDICATIONS ZELAPAR is contraindicated in patients with:

  • Concomitant use of opioid drugs (e.g., meperidine, tramadol, or methadone). Serotonin syndrome, a potentially serious condition, which can result in death, has been reported with concomitant use of meperidine (e.g., Demerol and other trade names). At least 14 days should elapse between discontinuation of ZELAPAR and initiation of treatment with these medications [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] .
  • Concomitant use of other drugs in the monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) class or other drugs that are potent inhibitors of monoamine oxidase, including linezolid), because of an increased risk for hypertensive crisis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]. At least 14 days should elapse between discontinuation of ZELAPAR and initiation of treatment with any MAO inhibitor.
  • Concomitant use of St. John’s wort or cyclobenzaprine (a tricyclic muscle relaxant).
  • Concomitant use of dextromethorphan, because of reported episodes of psychosis or bizarre behavior. ZELAPAR is contraindicated in patients using the following drugs: opioid drugs (e.g., meperidine, tramadol, methadone), MAO inhibitors including selective MAO-B inhibitors, dextromethorphan, St. John’s wort, and cyclobenzaprine ( 4 )

    • Overdosage

    10 OVERDOSAGE 10.1 Selegiline Experience gained during development of the 5 mg swallowed dosage form reveals that some individuals exposed to doses of 600 mg of d,l-selegiline suffered severe hypotension and psychomotor agitation. Small increments in serum BUN and creatinine have been observed in patients who received ZELAPAR 10 mg daily (4 times the recommended dose). Since the selective inhibition of MAO-B by ZELAPAR is achieved only at doses in the range recommended for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (e.g., 2.5 mg/day), overdoses are likely to cause significant inhibition of both MAO-A and MAO-B. Consequently, the signs and symptoms of overdose may resemble those observed with marketed non-selective MAO inhibitors [e.g., tranylcypromine (PARNATE ® ), isocarboxazid (MARPLAN ® ), and phenelzine (NARDIL ® )]. For this reason, in cases of overdose with selegiline, dietary tyramine restriction should be observed for several weeks to avoid the risk of a hypertensive reaction. 10.2 Overdose with Non-selective MAO Inhibitors NOTE: The following description of presenting symptoms and clinical course is based upon overdose descriptions of non-selective MAO inhibitors and does not include information from patients who have overdosed on oral selegiline or ZELAPAR. Characteristically, signs and symptoms of non-selective MAO inhibitor overdose may not appear immediately. Delays of up to 12 hours between ingestion of drug and the appearance of signs may occur. Importantly, the peak intensity of the syndrome may not be reached for upwards of a day following the overdose. Death has been reported following overdosage. Therefore, immediate hospitalization, with continuous patient observation and monitoring for a period of at least two days following the ingestion of such drugs in overdose, is strongly recommended. The clinical picture of MAO inhibitor overdose varies considerably; its severity may be a function of the amount of drug consumed. The central nervous and...

    How Supplied

    16 HOW SUPPLIED/STORAGE AND HANDLING ZELAPAR Orally Disintegrating Tablets are available containing 1.25 mg selegiline hydrochloride in a Zydis ® formulation. Each pale yellow tablet is imprinted with a stylized “V”. Ten tablets in a blister card are provided in a sachet pouch. The sachet pouch is stored inside a clear child-resistant outer pouch and is packaged in a carton. The blister card and sachet pouch are not child-resistant. The clear outer pouch is child-resistant. ZELAPAR (selegiline hydrochloride) is available as: NDC 0187-0453-02 1.25 mg per tablet carton of 6 sachet pouches (60 tablets) Store at controlled room temperature, 25°C (77°F); excursions permitted to 15°C to 30°C (59°F to 86°F). Use within 3 months of opening pouch and immediately upon opening individual blister. Store blister tablets in sachet pouch at all times. Keep sachet pouch sealed or closed inside clear child-resistant pouch provided. Potency cannot be guaranteed after 3 months of opening the sachet pouch.

    About This Information

    This drug information is sourced from FDA-approved labeling via the openFDA database. It is intended for educational and reference purposes only. This is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making decisions about medication. Drug information may be updated by the FDA; check with your pharmacist for the most current information.

    What are side effects?

    Side effects are unwanted reactions that can occur when taking a medication. They range from mild (headache, nausea) to severe (allergic reactions, organ damage). Not everyone experiences side effects, and severity varies. Report any concerning side effects to your doctor.

    What are drug interactions?

    Drug interactions occur when a medication is affected by another drug, food, or supplement. Interactions can make medications less effective or cause dangerous side effects. Always tell your doctor about all medications and supplements you take.