Side effect of Rasagiline (Azilect)

[Redginger]

My husband started Rasagiline a few days ago and now is having tightness in his chest with breathing. Have any of you who experienced this symptom found another MAOB inhibitor that worked better for you?

[Grasss1973]

Just a couple of things to think about. Be sure the dose is not more than one milligram per day. Make sure he is not drinking beer or any alcohol for that matter and make sure he’s not eating any cheese . Both of these can raise blood pressure which in turn could bring on chest discomfort. Also someone should check his pulse to make sure he hasn’t developed an arrhythmia. Then call his neurologist and let them know how he’s feeling. They will probably have some helpful suggestions to deal with his symptoms.

Best of luck.

[Redginger in reply to Grasss1973]

Thank you for this info connecting BP and chest pain. We will pay more attention to the tiny bit of alcohol which he gets and cheese (which he loves) and see if there appears to be a correlation to the discomfort. We were checking BP and pulse. Thank you so much!

[JohnPepper in reply to Grasss1973]

Hi Grass

I took Selegiline for 8 years and the only problem I encountered was high blood pressure.

[Redginger in reply to JohnPepper]

Thanks for your reply, John. I read your book and now I recall you saying that your BP had gotten dangerously high. Did you stop it immediately or wean off? Are you happy that you discontinued that med, or did you find you had a set back when you stopped it?

[JohnPepper in reply to Redginger]

Hi Redginger. Yes, I stopped immediately. You cannot slowly come off an MAOb inhibitor, Either you take it or you don't. Yes I did feel the effect of coming off it, but my condition had already improved so much, at that time, I was able to get back to normal very quickly.. I wish I could give you my address and we could talk directly.

[pvw2]

I haven't noticed any side effects from Rasagiline and don't drink alcohol.

[Redginger in reply to pvw2]

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

[JoeKev]

I take 1mg Rasagiline AM. Then bike 10 miles 5/6 days a week. I drink a big glass of red wine every night. I’m 72. Never once felt chest pain.

[Redginger in reply to JoeKev]

Thank you for your reply. Sounds like you are doing pretty well on it. My husband's walking routine has finally improved the smallest little bit these last few days, for which we are excited.

[Dehlia in reply to Redginger]

PWP can be their own worst enemy. I’m one too.

Reminds me of The Little Engine That Could. Believe we can.

I have down days, like today but it’s up to me to change it. Courage.

Walking is the best. Heel first toe second.

Learning to walk all over again.

[Redginger in reply to Dehlia]

Thank you for the encouragement. Yes, now he's trying to focus on the placement of the feet as well. May God bless you today.

[Geenet]

I have been taking 1mg of Rasagiline every morning for about 3and a half years and sometimes have a glass of alcohol but not often. I have never had problems with my blood pressure and I love and eat cheese regularly! My neurologist tells me my PD is progressing very slowly so I am happy to take Rasagiline while it works for me.

[Redginger in reply to Geenet]

Congratulations on the slow progression. Thank has not been my husband's experience, but he did not choose to start out with meds at the beginning either. I'm so glad it worked out where you could still enjoy those foods.

[Cagey84]

You don’t need to cut out cheese - this is an extract from the EMC (electronic medicines compendium) product information;

“Tyramine/rasagiline interaction: Results of five tyramine challenge studies (in volunteers and PD patients), together with results of home monitoring of blood pressure after meals (of 464 patients treated with 0.5 or 1 mg/day of rasagiline or placebo as adjunct therapy to levodopa for six months without tyramine restrictions), and the fact that there were no reports of tyramine/rasagiline interaction in clinical studies conducted without tyramine restriction, indicate that rasagiline can be used safely without dietary tyramine restrictions”

Rasagline only inhibits the B form of MAO, hence no interaction with tyramine.

[Redginger in reply to Cagey84]

Thank you so much for taking the time to send that to us! That is very encouraging for my husband! May God bless you!