Selegiline adverse effects

Selegiline also increases the peak effects of L-dopa and can worsen preexisting dyskinesias or psychiatric symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations. Other adverse effects include insomnia, jitteriness. 

Preliminary studies suggest that MAOIs are effective in juvenile and adult ADHD. In a controlled trial of clorygline (MAOI-A) and tranylcypromine sulfate (mixed), Zametkin et al. (1985) reported a significant reduction in ADHD symptoms with minimal adverse effects. Eeigin et al. (1996) conducted a controlled trial of 10 mg of selegiline (which at low doses is a specific MAOI-B) in children with ADHD and Tourette s syndrome. Selegiline was well tolerated and was associated... 

Neither selegiline nor rasagiline should be taken by patients receiving meperidine. They should be used with care in patients receiving tricyclic antidepressants or serotonin reuptake inhibitors because of the theoretical risk of acute toxic interactions of the serotonin syndrome type (see Chapter 16), but this is rarely encountered in practice. The adverse effects of levodopa may be increased by these drugs. 

Toxicity Adverse effects include insomnia, mood changes, dyskinesias, gastrointestinal distress, and hypotension. Meperidine in combination with selegiline has caused agitation, delirium, and death. Selegiline has been implicated in the serotonin syndrome when used in patients taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (see Chapter 30). 

One manufacturer of selegiline states that concurrent use of amantadine can increase the occurrence of adverse effects (e.g. dizziness, tremor, orthostatic hypotension). ... 

In a single dose study, there was no adverse effect on heart rate or blood pressure when entacapone was given with moclobemide (a RIMA), but caution is recommended until further clinical experience is gained. The COMT inhibitors may be used with the MAO-B inhibitors (such as selegiline). However, the manufacturers of entacapone and tolcapone contraindicate concurrent use of non-selective MAOIs or a combination of both a RIMA and a MAO-B inhibitor. 

A retrospective study of patients with Parkinson s disease taking selegiline 5 to to mg daily (and other anti-parkinson drugs such as levo-dopa/carbidopa, bromocriptine, amantadine, pergolide, and antimuscarinics) noted that the addition of trazodone 25 to 150 mg daily caused no adverse effects and the patients appeared to obtain overall benefit, including some improvement in parkinsonian symptoms. ... 

Most of the adverse reactions to selegiline are related to actions of increased levels of dopamine, as discussed earlier. At recommended doses, and unlike the nonselective MAO inhibitors used in the treatment of depression, selegiline has little effect on MAO-A and therefore generally does not cause the hypertension associated with the ingestion of tyramine-enriched foods (see Chapter 20). However, at doses higher than those usually recommended, MAO-A may be inhibited, which increases the risk of a tyramine reaction. 

Children with Tourette s syndrome and ADHD refractory to other ADHD medication (n = 29) were treated openly with an average deprenyl dose of 8 mg/ day (Jankovic, 1993). The vast majority of patients (26/29) reported clinical improvement with no serious adverse outcomes. Mild side effects that did not require discontinuation of the drug were noted in six patients. Two patients had exacerbations of their tics. A later controlled trial of low-dose selegiline (10 mg/day) did not demonstrate statistically significant improvement of ADHD symptoms in children with Tourette s syndrome (Feigin et ah, 1996). 

Selegiline is relatively safe in terms of short-term adverse side effects. With some MAO inhibitors, there is frequently a sudden, large increase in blood pressure if the patient ingests foods containing tyramine (see Chapter 7). However, selegiline does not appear to cause a hypertensive crisis even when such tyramine-containing foods are eaten.48 Other side effects include dizziness, sedation, gastrointestinal distress, and headache. 

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