Microplastics and Misinformation: What Science Really Says
November 12, 2025
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Brand Name :
Eldepryl, Zelapar
Synonyms :
Selegilinum, Selegilina, L-Deprenalin
Class :
Antidepressants and antianxiety drugs; MAO inhibitors
Brand Name :
Eldepryl, Zelapar
Synonyms :
Selegilinum, Selegilina, L-Deprenalin
Class :
Antidepressants and antianxiety drugs; MAO inhibitors
Dosage Forms & StrengthsÂ
TabletÂ
5mgÂ
CapsuleÂ
5mgÂ
Disintegrating tabletÂ
1.25mgÂ
Conventional-
5 mg orally at breakfast and 5 mg during lunch, hence; 10 mg/day
2-3 days later the selegiline therapy, taper the dose of levodopa by 10-30%, depending on the tolerance
Do not exceed the dose of more than 10 mg/day
If combined with levodopa, 1.25 mg orally each day
Orally-disintegrating-
Initially, 1.25 mg orally each day
If no adequate response is achieved, increase the dose after 6 weeks
Do not increase the dose to more than 2.5 mg/day
Don’t swallow
Take the medication in the morning without liquids
Dose Modifications
In the case of hepatic disease (mild to moderate), Child-Pugh class A & B- reduce the daily dose from 2.5 to 1.25 mg each day
Safety & efficacy is not seen in pediatrics Â
Dosage Forms & StrengthsÂ
TabletÂ
5mgÂ
CapsuleÂ
5mgÂ
Disintegrating tabletÂ
1.25mg Â
5 mg orally every with each breakfast and lunch
When combined with levodopa, keep the dose less than 5 mg each day
3 days later of selegiline therapy, taper the dose of levodopa by 10-30%
Continue to streamline the dose as per the patient’s response
Orally-disintegrating-
Initially, 1.25 mg orally each day
If no adequate response is achieved, increase the dose after 6 weeks
Do not increase the dose to more than 2.5 mg/day
It may enhance serotonin levels when combined with tramadol
may have an increasingly adverse effect when combined with MAO inhibitors
may have an increasingly adverse effect when combined with MAO inhibitors
may have an increasingly adverse effect when combined with MAO inhibitors
may have an increasingly adverse effect when combined with MAO inhibitors
may increase the efficacy of each other when combined
CNS depressants increase the CNS suppression effect of thalidomide
it increases the effect of Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
it increases the effect of Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
it increases the effect of Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
it increases the effect of Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
it increases the effect of Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
may increase the hypertension effect
May have an increased serotonergic effect when combined with Serotonin/Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
May have an increased serotonergic effect when combined with Serotonin/Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
May have an increased serotonergic effect when combined with Serotonin/Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
May have an increased serotonergic effect when combined with Serotonin/Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
May have an increased serotonergic effect when combined with Serotonin/Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
may have an increased serotonergic effect when combined with monoamine oxidase inhibitors
may have an increased serotonergic effect when combined with monoamine oxidase inhibitors
may have an increased serotonergic effect when combined with monoamine oxidase inhibitors
may have an increased serotonergic effect when combined with monoamine oxidase inhibitors
may have an increased serotonergic effect when combined with monoamine oxidase inhibitors
may increase the hypertensive effect
may increase the hypertensive effect
may increase the hypertensive effect
may increase the hypertensive effect
may increase the hypertensive effect
may increase the hypertensive effect
it increases the effect of Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
it increases the effect of Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
it increases the effect of Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
it increases the effect of Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
it increases the effect of Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
may have an increased serotonergic effect when combined with tricyclic antidepressants
it increases the effect of SSRIs
it increases the effect of SSRIs
it increases the effect of SSRIs
it increases the effect of SSRIs
it increases the effect of SSRIs
It may enhance the levels when combined with metformin by unspecified interactions mechanism
they increase the effect of Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
they increase the effect of Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
they increase the effect of Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
they increase the effect of Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
they increase the effect of Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
may have an increasingly adverse effect when combined with beta2-agonists
may have an increasingly adverse effect when combined with beta2-agonists
may have an increasingly adverse effect when combined with beta2-agonists
may have an increased hypertensive effect when combined with alpha-/beta-agonists
may have an increased hypertensive effect when combined with alpha1-agonists
may have an increased hypertensive effect when combined with amphetamines
may have an increased hypertensive effect when combined with amphetamines
may have an increased hypertensive effect when combined with amphetamines
may have an increased hypertensive effect when combined with amphetamines
may have an increased hypertensive effect when combined with amphetamines
may have an increased serotonergic effect when combined with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
may have an increased serotonergic effect when combined with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
may have an increased serotonergic effect when combined with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
may have an increased serotonergic effect when combined with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
may have an increased serotonergic effect when combined with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
May have an increased serotonergic effect when combined with Serotonin/Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
May have an increased serotonergic effect when combined with Serotonin/Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
May have an increased serotonergic effect when combined with Serotonin/Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
May have an increased serotonergic effect when combined with Serotonin/Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
May have an increased serotonergic effect when combined with Serotonin/Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
may decrease the therapeutic effect when combined with radiopharmaceutical iobenguane products
may decrease the therapeutic effect when combined with radiopharmaceutical iobenguane products
may decrease the therapeutic effect when combined with radiopharmaceutical iobenguane products
may decrease the therapeutic effect when combined with radiopharmaceutical iobenguane products
may decrease the therapeutic effect when combined with radiopharmaceutical iobenguane products
selegiline: they may enhance the serum concentration of CYP2D6 Inhibitors
selegiline: they may enhance the serum concentration of CYP2D6 Inhibitors
selegiline: they may enhance the serum concentration of CYP2D6 Inhibitors
selegiline: they may enhance the serum concentration of CYP2D6 Inhibitors
selegiline: they may enhance the serum concentration of CYP2D6 Inhibitors
it increases the toxicity of diphenoxylate through an unknown mechanism
it increases the effect of Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
it increases the effect of Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
it increases the effect of Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
it increases the effect of SSRIs
it increases the effect of Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
it increases the effect of Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
it increases the effect of SSRIs
it increases the effect of Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors
may enhance the effects of the other by pharmacodynamic synergism
may decrease the hypertensive effect of amphetamines
promethazine/dextromethorphanÂ
may increase the serotonergic effect of Dextromethorphan
may have an increasingly adverse effect when combined with isometheptene
It may enhance the levels when combined with metformin by unspecified interactions mechanism
may have an increased risk of serotonin syndrome when combined with kratom
may increase the hypoglycemic effect of Agents with each other when combined
may increase the hypoglycemic effect of Agents with each other when combined
may increase the hypoglycemic effect of Agents with each other when combined
may increase the hypoglycemic effect of Agents with each other when combined
may increase the hypoglycemic effect of Agents with each other when combined
they increase the toxicity of bezafibrate
MAO inhibitors increase the effect of hypertension of amphetamines
MAO inhibitors increase the effect of hypertension of amphetamines
MAO inhibitors increase the effect of hypertension of amphetamines
MAO inhibitors increase the effect of hypertension of amphetamines
MAO inhibitors increase the effect of hypertension of amphetamines
it increases the toxicity of MAO inhibitors
it enhances the serotonergic effect of MAO inhibitors
MAO inhibitors increase the toxic or adverse effects of hydromorphone
apraclonidine: it may increase the toxic effect of monoamine oxidase inhibitors A
it may increase the toxic or adverse effects of hydromorphone
seizure lowering agents increase the toxic or adverse effects of other antipsychotic agents
seizure lowering agents increase the toxic or adverse effects of other antipsychotic agents
seizure lowering agents increase the toxic or adverse effects of other antipsychotic agents
seizure lowering agents increase the toxic or adverse effects of other antipsychotic agents
seizure lowering agents increase the toxic or adverse effects of other antipsychotic agents
seizure lowering agents increase the toxic or adverse effects of other antipsychotic agents
seizure lowering agents increase the toxic or adverse effects of other antipsychotic agents
seizure lowering agents increase the toxic or adverse effects of other antipsychotic agents
seizure lowering agents increase the toxic or adverse effects of other antipsychotic agents
seizure lowering agents increase the toxic or adverse effects of other antipsychotic agents
seizure lowering agents increase the toxic or adverse effects of other antipsychotic agents
seizure lowering agents increase the toxic or adverse effects of other antipsychotic agents
seizure lowering agents increase the toxic or adverse effects of other antipsychotic agents
seizure lowering agents increase the toxic or adverse effects of other antipsychotic agents
they increase the effect of hypotension on other hypotensive agents
they increase the effect of hypotension on other hypotensive agents
they increase the effect of hypotension on other hypotensive agents
they increase the effect of hypotension on other hypotensive agents
they increase the effect of hypotension on other hypotensive agents
may increase the hypoglycemic effect
may increase the hypoglycemic effect
may increase the hypoglycemic effect
may increase the hypoglycemic effect
may increase the hypoglycemic effect
may increase the risk of adverse effect
may increase the risk of adverse effect
may increase the risk of adverse effect
may increase the risk of adverse effect
may increase the serotonergic effects
may increase the serotonergic effects
may increase the serotonergic effects
may increase the serotonergic effects
may increase the serotonergic effects
may increase the serotonergic effects
may increase the serotonergic effects
may increase the serotonergic effects
may increase the serotonergic effects
may increase the serotonergic effects
may increase the serotonergic effects
may increase the serotonergic effects
may increase the serotonergic effects
may increase the serotonergic effects
may increase the serotonergic effects
may increase the serotonergic effects
may increase the serotonergic effects
may increase the serotonergic effects
may increase the serotonergic effects
may increase the serotonergic effects
may increase the serotonergic effects
may increase the serotonergic effects
may increase the serotonergic effects
may enhance the effect of serotonergic activity
may enhance the effect of serotonergic activity
may enhance the effect of serotonergic activity
may enhance the effect of serotonergic activity
may have an increasingly adverse effect when combined with beta2-agonists
may have an increasingly adverse effect when combined with beta2-agonists
may have an increasingly adverse effect when combined with beta2-agonists
may have an increasingly adverse effect when combined with beta2-agonists
may have an increasingly adverse effect when combined with beta2-agonists
It may enhance the risk of adverse effects when combined with monoamine oxidase
may have an increasingly adverse effect when combined with beta2-agonists
may have an increasingly adverse effect when combined with beta2-agonists
may have an increasingly adverse effect when combined with beta2-agonists
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors: they may increase the hypoglycemic effect of blood viscosity reducing agents
Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors: they may increase the hypoglycemic effect of blood viscosity reducing agents
may increase the risk or severity of hypertension when combined
mazindol increases the effect of hypertension when taken with MAO inhibitors
MAO inhibitors increase the toxic or adverse effects of hydrocodone
Actions and Spectrum:Â
selegiline is a medication that belongs to the class of drugs called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). It is primarily used to treat symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder affecting movement, but it can also treat depression.Â
The main action of selegiline is to inhibit the activity of monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B), an enzyme that breaks down dopamine in the brain. By inhibiting MAO-B, selegiline increases dopamine levels in the brain, which can help improve the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, such as tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with movement.Â
selegiline is also believed to have neuroprotective effects, which may help protect brain cells from damage and slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease.Â
Frequency DefinedÂ
>10%Â
Nausea Â
DyskinesiaÂ
1-10%Â
Dry mouthÂ
Abdominal painÂ
Frequency not definedÂ
ArrhythmiasÂ
ConfusionÂ
HallucinationsÂ
HeadacheÂ
EPSÂ
Generalized painÂ
HTNÂ
InsomniaÂ
SyncopeÂ
Urinary retentionÂ
Mood changesÂ
Orthostatic hypotensionÂ
VomitingÂ
Contraindication/Caution:Â
selegiline is a medication with several contraindications and precautions that should be considered before its use. Some of these include:Â
Pregnancy consideration:Â Â
No data available for utilization in pregnant womenÂ
Breastfeeding warnings:Â Â
Drug distribution in breast milk is unknown, so use the drug cautiously during lactation.Â
Pregnancy category:Â
Pharmacology:Â
selegiline is a selective, irreversible inhibitor of the enzyme monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B). MAO-B is responsible for breaking down dopamine in the brain, and by inhibiting this enzyme, selegiline increases dopamine levels in the brain.Â
selegiline also inhibits the breakdown of other neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and serotonin, although to a lesser extent than dopamine. This is because MAO-B is less active in breaking down norepinephrine and serotonin than dopamine.Â
selegiline is rapidly absorbed after oral administration, and peak plasma concentrations are reached within 1 to 2 hours. It is extensively metabolized in the liver to metabolites, including L-desmethylselegiline (L-Deprenyl), an active metabolite.Â
Selegiline has a relatively short half-life of about 1.5 to 2 hours, but its metabolites have longer half-lives of about 10 hours. As a result, the pharmacological effects of selegiline can persist even after the drug has been eliminated from the body.Â
selegiline is primarily used for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, where it is used in combination with levodopa to improve motor symptoms. It is also an antidepressant and effectively treats depression in some patients.Â
In addition to its effects on dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, selegiline has been found to have other neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects that may contribute to its therapeutic effects. However, more research is needed to understand these mechanisms of action fully.Â
Pharmacodynamics:Â
The pharmacodynamics of selegiline are complex and can involve multiple mechanisms of action, including:Â
Pharmacokinetics:Â
Absorption Â
selegiline is well-absorbed after oral administration, and peak plasma concentrations are reached within 1 to 2 hours.Â
DistributionÂ
selegiline is widely distributed throughout the body, including the brain, where it exerts its therapeutic effects.Â
MetabolismÂ
selegiline is extensively metabolized in the liver, primarily by the enzyme cytochrome P450 2B6, to metabolites that are also active. One of the primary metabolites is L-desmethylselegiline (L-Deprenyl), which has a longer half-life than selegiline and contributes to its pharmacological effects.Â
Elimination and ExcretionÂ
selegiline is eliminated from the body primarily through the urine, with only a tiny percentage eliminated in the feces. The elimination half-life of selegiline is relatively short, at about 1.5 to 2 hours, but the half-life of its metabolites is longer, at about 10 hours.Â
Administration:Â
selegiline is a medication used to treat Parkinson’s disease, a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a lack of dopamine in the brain. selegiline works by increasing dopamine levels in the brain by inhibiting its breakdown. Administer it orally as a capsule, tablet, or disintegrating tablet.Â
The administration of selegiline should always be done according to the instructions of a healthcare professional. The recommended starting dose is 5 milligrams (mg) daily, taken in the morning with or without food. The maximum daily dose is 10 mg per day.Â
Patient information leafletÂ
Generic Name:Â selegilineÂ
Pronounced: se-LE-ji-leenÂ
Why do we use selegiline?Â
selegiline is used primarily to treat the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement. Parkinson’s disease is caused by the gradual loss of dopamine-producing cells in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps to regulate movement, emotions, and the reward system.Â
selegiline is a type of medication called a selective monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI), which works by increasing dopamine levels in the brain. MAOIs work by inhibiting the action of an enzyme called monoamine oxidase, which breaks down dopamine in the brain.Â
selegiline is often used in combination with other medications for Parkinson’s disease, such as levodopa/carbidopa, to enhance its effects and to help reduce motor fluctuations and dyskinesias (abnormal involuntary movements). Â
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