Selegiline

Trade names

• L-DEPRENYL
• ELDEPRYL

Actions

• Selective inhibitor of monoamine oxidase-B.

Route of Administration

Oral, Transdermal patch

Bioavailability

4.4% (oral, fasted), 20% (oral, together with food), 73% (patch)

Plasma protein binding

≥85–90%

Half-life

10 hours (oral), 18–25 hours (transdermal)

Metabolism

Hepatic

Elimination

Renal

Important side-effects

Exacerbation of hypertension.

Certain foods that contain very high amounts (>150 mg) of tyramine may cause severe hypertension in patients treated with MAO-B inhibitors.

Serotonin syndrome when concomitantly administrated with serotonergic medication (SSRI, SNRI, tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants, etc).

Excessive somnolence.

Dyskinesias.

Orthostatic hypotension.

Hallucinations and psychosis.

Recommended dose

10 mg per day as a single dose or divided in two doses.

Renal impairment

Insufficient data exist on the safety of selegiline in patients with renal impairment.

Hepatic impairment

Insufficient data exist on the safety of selegiline in patients with hepatic impairment.