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In this Article

• What is rasagiline (Azilect)?
• What are the possible side effects of rasagiline (Azilect)?
• What is the most important information I should know about rasagiline (Azilect)?
• What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking rasagiline (Azilect)?
• How should I take rasagiline (Azilect)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Azilect)?
• What happens if I overdose (Azilect)?
• What should I avoid while taking rasagiline (Azilect)?
• What other drugs will affect rasagiline (Azilect)?
• Where can I get more information?

What happens if I miss a dose (Azilect)?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose (Azilect)?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine. Symptoms of a rasagiline overdose may include drowsiness, severe headache, feeling agitated or irritable, vision problems, fast and uneven heartbeats, sweating, cold or clammy skin, shallow breathing, fainting, or seizure (convulsions).

What should I avoid while taking rasagiline (Azilect)?

While you are taking rasagiline and for 2 weeks after you stop taking it, you must not eat foods that are high in tyramine, including:

• air dried meats, aged or fermented meats, sausage or salami (including cacciatore and mortadella), pickled herring, and any spoiled or improperly stored beef, poultry, fish, or liver;
• beer from a tap, beer that has not been pasteurized, or red wine;
• aged cheeses, including blue, boursault, brick, brie, camembert, cheddar, emmenthaler, gruyere, parmesan, romano, roquefort, stilton, and swiss;
• sauerkraut;
• over-the-counter supplements or cough and cold medicines that contain tyramine;
• soy beans, soy sauce, tofu, miso soup, bean curd, fava beans; or
• yeast extracts (such as Marmite).

Eating tyramine while you are taking rasagiline can raise your blood pressure to dangerous levels which could cause life-threatening side effects.

You should become very familiar with the list of foods you must avoid while you are taking rasagiline. Continue avoiding these foods for a full 14 days after you stop taking the medication.

Rasagiline can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

What other drugs will affect rasagiline (Azilect)?

Before taking rasagiline, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

• ciprofloxacin (Cipro);
• theophylline (Theo-Dur, Respbid, Uniphyl); or
• antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), amoxapine (Ascendin), citalopram (Celexa), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), paroxetine (Paxil), or sertraline (Zoloft).

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use rasagiline, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect rasagiline. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist has more information about rasagiline written for health professionals that you may read.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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