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Rasagiline

Also sold as: Azilect

Monoamine Oxidase InhibitorsPrescription OnlyGeneric Available

Related Medications

Important: Only drugs listed as "Exact Equivalents" (FDA AB-rated) are confirmed interchangeable. All other listings are for informational reference only and do NOT indicate that drugs can be substituted without a physician's explicit guidance.
Same Pharmacologic Class

These drugs share a pharmacologic classification but are NOT interchangeable. Listing here does not imply clinical equivalence. A physician must evaluate each drug individually for the patient's specific condition.

Classification: Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (source: RxClass/NLM)

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Drug Information

Indications & Uses

1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Rasagiline tablets are indicated for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). Rasagiline Tablets, a monoamine oxidase (MAO)-B inhibitor (MAOI), is indicated for the treatment of Parkinson's disease ( 1 )

Dosage & Administration

2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Monotherapy: Rasagiline Tablets 1 mg once daily (2.1) As adjunct without levodopa: Rasagiline Tablets 1 mg once daily (2.1) As adjunct to levodopa: Rasagiline Tablets 0.5 mg once daily. Increase dose to 1 mg daily as needed for sufficient clinical response (2.1) Patients taking ciprofloxacin or other CYP1A2 inhibitors: Rasagiline Tablets 0.5 mg once daily (2.2, 5.4) Patients with mild hepatic impairment: Rasagiline Tablets 0.5 mg once daily. Rasagiline Tablets should not be used in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment (2.3, 5.5) 2.1 General Dosing Recommendations When rasagiline tablets are prescribed as monotherapy or as adjunct therapy in patients not taking levodopa, patients may start rasagiline tablets at the recommended dose of 1 mg administered orally once daily. In patients taking levodopa, with or without other PD drugs (e.g., dopamine agonist, amantadine, anticholinergics), the recommended initial dose of rasagiline tablet is 0.5 mg once daily. If the patient tolerates the daily 0.5 mg dose, but a sufficient clinical response is not achieved, the dose may be increased to 1 mg once daily. When rasagiline tablets are used in combination with levodopa, a reduction of the levodopa dose may be considered, based upon individual response. The recommended doses of rasagiline tablets should not be exceeded because of risk of hypertension [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]. 2.2 Patients Taking Ciprofloxacin or Other CYP1A2 Inhibitors Patients taking concomitant ciprofloxacin or other CYP1A2 inhibitors should not exceed a dose of rasagiline tablet 0.5 mg once daily [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4), Drug Interactions (7.6), and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)]. 2.3 Patients with Hepatic Impairment Patients with mild hepatic impairment should not exceed a dose of rasagiline tablet 0.5 mg once daily. Rasagiline tablets should not be used in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment [see Warnings and Precautions (5.5), Use in Specific Populations (8.6), and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)] .

Side Effects (Adverse Reactions)

6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following adverse reactions are described in more detail in the Warnings and Precautions section of the label: Hypertension [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] 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 (5.6) ] Dyskinesia [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) ] Hallucinations / Psychotic-Like Behavior [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.8) ] Impulse Control /Compulsive Behaviors [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.9) ] Withdrawal-Emergent Hyperpyrexia and Confusion [ see Warnings and Precautions (5.10) ] Most common adverse reactions (incidence 3% or greater than placebo): Rasagiline monotherapy: flu syndrome, arthralgia, depression, dyspepsia ( 6.1 ) Rasagiline used as adjunct without levodopa: peripheral edema, fall, arthralgia, cough, and insomnia ( 6.1 ) Rasagiline used as adjunct to levodopa: dyskinesia, accidental injury, weight loss, postural hypotension, vomiting, anorexia, arthralgia, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, dry mouth, rash, abnormal dreams, fall, and tenosynovitis ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Torrent Pharma Inc. at 1-800-912-9561 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, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to the incidence of adverse reactions in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates of adverse reactions observed in practice. During the clinical development of rasagiline tablets, Parkinson's disease patients received rasagiline tablets as initial monotherapy (Study 1) and as adjunct therapy (Study 2, Study 3, Study 4). As the populations in these studies differ, not only in the adjunct use of dopamine agonists or levodopa during rasagiline treatment, but also in the severity and duration of their disease, the adverse reactions are presented separately for each study. Monotherapy Use of Rasagiline Tablets In Study 1, approximately 5% of the 149 patients treated with rasagiline tablets discontinued treatment due to adverse reactions compared to 2% of the 151 patients who received placebo. The only adverse reaction that led to the discontinuation of more than one patient was hallucinations. The most commonly observed adverse reactions in Study 1 (incidence in rasagiline tablets -treated patients 3% or greater than the incidence in placebo-treated patients) included flu syndrome, arthralgia, depression, and dyspepsia. Table 1 lists adverse reactions that occurred in 2% or greater of patients receiving rasagiline tablets as monotherapy and were numerically more frequent than in the placebo group in Study 1. Table 1: Adverse Reactions* in Study 1 *Incidence 2% or greater in rasagiline tablets 1 mg group and numerically more frequent than in placebo group Rasagiline tablets 1 mg (N=149) P l acebo (N=151) % of Patients % of Patients Headache 14 12 Arthralgia 7 4 Dyspepsia 7 4 Depression 5 2 Fall 5 3 Flu syndrome 5 1 Conjunctivitis 3 1 Fever 3 1 Gastroenteritis 3 1 Rhinitis 3 1 Arthritis 2 1 Ecchymosis 2 0 Malaise 2 0 Neck Pain 2 0 Paresthesia 2 1 Vertigo 2 1 There were no significant differences in the safety profile based on age or gender. Adjunct Use of Rasagiline Tablets Rasagiline tablets were studied as an adjunct therapy without levodopa (Study 2), or as an adjunct therapy to levodopa, with some patients also taking dopamine agonists, COMT inhibitors, anticholinergics, or amantadine (Study 3 and Study 4). In Study 2, approximately 8% of the 162 patients treated with rasagiline tablets discontinued treatment due to adverse reactions compared to 4% of the 164 patients who received placebo. Adverse reactions that led to the discontinuation of more than one patient were nausea and dizziness. The most commonly observed adverse reactions in Study 2 (incidence in rasagiline tablets -treated patients 3% or greater than incidence in placebo-treated patients) included peripheral edema, fall, arthralgia, cough, and insomnia. Table 2 lists adverse reactions that occurred in 2% or greater in patients receiving rasagiline tablets as adjunct therapy without levodopa and numerically more frequent than in the placebo group in Study 2. Table 2: Adverse Reactions* in Study 2 *Incidence 2% or greater in rasagiline tablets 1 mg group and numerically more frequent than in placebo group Rasagiline tablets 1 mg (N=162) Placebo (N=164) % of Patients % of Patients Dizziness 7 6 Peripheral edema 7 4 Headache 6 4 Nausea 6 4 Fall 6 1 Arthralgia 5 2 Back pain 4 3 Cough 4 1 Insomnia 4 1 Upper respiratory tract infection 4 2 Orthostatic hypotension 3 1 There were no significant differences in the safety profile based on age or gender. In Study 3, adverse event reporting was considered more reli

Drug Interactions

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Meperidine: Risk of serotonin syndrome (4, 7.1) Dextromethorphan: Risk of psychosis or bizarre behavior (4, 7.2) MAO inhibitors: Risk of non-selective MAO inhibition and hypertensive crisis (4, 7.3) 7.1 Meperidine Serious, sometimes fatal reactions have been precipitated with concomitant use of meperidine (e.g., Demerol and other tradenames) and MAO inhibitors including selective MAO-B inhibitors [see Contraindications (4)] . 7.2 Dextromethorphan The concomitant use of rasagiline tablets and dextromethorphan was not allowed in clinical studies. The combination of MAO inhibitors and dextromethorphan has been reported to cause brief episodes of psychosis or bizarre behavior. Therefore, in view of rasagiline's MAO inhibitory activity, dextromethorphan is contraindicated for use with rasagiline tablets [see Contraindications (4)] . 7.3 MAO Inhibitors Rasagiline tablets are contraindicated for use with other MAO inhibitors because of the increased risk of nonselective MAO inhibition that may lead to a hypertensive crisis [see Contraindications (4)] . 7.4 Sympathomimetic Medications The concomitant use of rasagiline tablets and sympathomimetic medications was not allowed in clinical studies. Severe hypertensive reactions have followed the administration of sympathomimetics and nonselective MAO inhibitors. Hypertensive crisis has been reported in patients taking the recommended dose of rasagiline tablets and sympathomimetic medications. Severe hypertension has been reported in patients taking the recommended dose of rasagiline tablets and ophthalmic drops containing sympathomimetic medications. Because rasagiline is a selective MAOI, hypertensive reactions are not ordinarily expected with the concomitant use of sympathomimetic medications. Nevertheless, caution should be exercised when concomitantly using recommended doses of rasagiline tablets with any sympathomimetic medications including nasal, oral, and ophthalmic decongestants and cold remedies. 7.5 Antidepressants Concomitant use of rasagiline tablets with one of many classes of antidepressants (e.g., SSRIs, SNRIs, triazolopyridine, tricyclic, or tetracyclic antidepressants) is not recommended [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)] . Concomitant use of rasagiline and MAO inhibitors is contraindicated [see Contraindications (4)]. 7.6 Ciprofloxacin or Other CYP1A2 Inhibitors Rasagiline plasma concentrations may increase up to 2 fold in patients using concomitant ciprofloxacin and other CYP1A2 inhibitors. This could result in increased adverse events. Patients taking concomitant ciprofloxacin or other CYP1A2 inhibitors should not exceed a dose of rasagiline tablets 0.5 mg once daily [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3)] . 7.7 Tyramine/Rasagiline Interaction MAO in the gastrointestinal tract and liver (primarily type A) provides protection from exogenous amines (e.g., tyramine) that have the capacity, if absorbed intact, to cause a tyramine reaction with hypertension including clinical syndromes referred to as hypertensive urgency, crisis, or emergency. Foods and medications containing large amounts of exogenous amines (e.g., from fermented cheese, herring, over-the-counter cough/cold medications) may cause release of norepinephrine resulting in a rise in systemic blood pressure. Results of a special tyramine challenge study indicate that rasagiline is selective for MAO-B at recommended doses and can be used without dietary tyramine restriction. However, certain foods may contain very high amounts (i.e., 150 mg or greater) of tyramine and could potentially cause a hypertensive reaction in individual patients taking rasagiline tablets due to increased sensitivity to tyramine. Selectivity for inhibiting MAO-B diminishes in a dose-related manner as the dose is progressively increased above the recommended daily doses. There were no cases of hypertensive crisis in the clinical development program associated with 1mg daily rasagiline tablet treatment, in which most patients did not follow dietary tyramine restriction. There have been postmarketing reports of patients who experienced significantly elevated blood pressure (including rare cases of hypertensive crisis) after ingestion of unknown amounts of tyramine-rich foods while taking recommended doses of rasagiline tablets. Patients should be advised to avoid foods containing a very large amount of tyramine while taking recommended doses of rasagiline tablets [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)]. 7.8 Dopaminergic Antagonists It is possible that dopamine antagonists, such as antipsychotics or metoclopramide, could diminish the effectiveness of rasagiline.

Contraindications

4 CONTRAINDICATIONS Rasagiline is contraindicated for use with meperidine, tramadol, methadone, propoxyphene and MAO inhibitors (MAOIs), including other selective MAO-B inhibitors, because of risk of serotonin syndrome [See Warnings and Precautions (5.2)] . At least 14 days should elapse between discontinuation of rasagiline and initiation of treatment with these medications. Rasagiline is contraindicated for use with St. John's wort and with cyclobenzaprine. Rasagiline is contraindicated for use with dextromethorphan because of risk of episode of psychosis or bizarre behavior. Concomitant use of meperidine, tramadol, methadone, propoxyphene dextromethorphan, St. John's wort, cyclobenzaprine, or another (selective or non-selective) MAO inhibitor ( 4 )

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