Azilect is a novel anti-Parkinson’s medication, capable of reducing many of the disease’s symptoms and improving life of a sufferer. In spite of a fact that the drug is new (approved by the FDA in May 2006), it has undergone extensive clinical trials and has showed high efficacy rates. Major drug’s benefits include improvement of such events as tremor, rigidity, and slowness of movements, allowing a patient to walk, speak, swallow, dress and fulfill other daily activities with less trouble.
At the same time, some questions about Azilect still remain open and need further scientific research. It is known that the active ingredient of this medicine – rasagiline – is a representative of a new generation of MAO inhibitors. It works in the human brain to increase the amount of neurotransmitters for better nerve cells communication. It is suggested that rasagiline blocks the activity of monoamine oxydase, an enzyme, which action is to break down such neurotransmitters as serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, tyramine, etc.
Scientists state that rasagiline inhibits MAO type B, but it is not known exactly whether it also blocks MAO type A. As a result of its activity the level of dopamine in the brain becomes increased, which is thought to be the main reason why rasagiline improves Parkinson’s symptoms.
Being a convenient treatment option (Azilect should be taken once daily irrespective of meals at a dose of either 0,5 mg or 1 mg) this medicine is nevertheless associated with a number of side effects. Here belong dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, constipation, headache, depression, postural hypotension, hallucinations and difficulty moving. Joints pain, dizziness, flu-like symptoms may also occur. It is said that patients taking Azilect may be at the higher risk of skin cancer.
The most troublesome part of Azilect therapy, however, is its tendency to interact with multiple drugs, herbal remedies, food supplements, and even foods, which may be quite challenging for a patient. Antidepressants, anti-infectives (colds and flu medications), pain-killers, amphetamines, diet pills and muscle relaxants – this is not a complete list of the drugs, the combination of which with Azilect may be not only dangerous, but even fatal in some cases. In addition, this new medication should not be taken with St. John’s wort. Even much chocolate consumed by patients taking Azilect may cause problems with blood pressure.
Special attention should be paid to the warning not to take Azilect along with foods high in tyramine in view of the risk of hypertensive crisis occurrence. The matter is that if rasagiline inhibits MAO-A the same way as it does with MAO-B, tyramine from foods may enter the body in much larger amounts leading to hypertensive crisis. Adequate level of MAO-A is necessary to brake down tyramine. Being blocked by Azilect, MAO-A will not have a chance to do its job.
Foods that contain high levels of tyramine include all aged, pickled, smoked, or fermented products – aged cheeses, red wine, air-dried meats, soy products, tap beer and ale, overriped fruits (avocados, figs, plums, oranges, etc.), processed foods, and many others.
Another precaution while on Azilect concerns pregnant and breastfeeding women, people with liver disease and adrenal gland tumor, who may not be able to take this medication.
On the other hand, the advantage of Azilect is that the drug may be taken along with levodopa, producing better results than the latter taken alone. In addition, the drug is now not associated with such adverse even as dyskinesia, seen in other anti-Parkinson’s medications. Thus, Azilect seems to be quite a positive and promising option for those seeking for an effective method to reduce Parkinson’s symptoms and delay disease progression for quite a significant period of time.
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