Azilect, how much of a difference does it... - Cure Parkinson's

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Azilect, how much of a difference does it mark on your symptoms? Have you ever stopped then restarted? Please help me!

26 Replies

Please, if you are taking Azilect, how much of a difference have you experienced?

I’m trying to determine how much of my improvements to attribute to Azilect.

I’m really grateful for any feedback on its effectiveness!

And I am thinking of taking a break to determine this but am concerned about just stopping and I don’t know how long the wash out period would be.

Thank you! 🌸

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26 Replies
laglag profile image
laglag

I was on Azilect for approximately 10 yrs and about 6 mths ago I didn't get my prescription in the mail so I took a 1/2 pill for a week and then every other day for a few days and then stopped. After about 10 days I felt a little more tired during the day and I felt stiff and sore. I decided to start it again and those things went away. Hope this helps! 🥊

in reply to laglag

Definitely helps! Thank you! I’m going to try and wean off and see what happens.

Pretty please Laglag read my link I posted about Selegiline. You might prefer it over Azilect. There is much more science to support Selegiline being protective than Azilect. ❤️

laglag profile image
laglag in reply to

My neice calls me Aunt Pretty Please because I used to have her say pretty please when she wanted something!

I'll talk to my neurologist about Selegiline at my next appointment in April .

in reply to laglag

But Laglag, I doubt she will have a clue. Pretty pretty pretty please look at my post with the link! After reading it the very thorough PB thinks the Selegiline might be why his PD is not progressing. I’m pestering you bc I truly care. ❤️

park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply to

I did mention that as a possibility, however, I would put more weight on high-dose thiamine, cinnamon, exercise and Qigong.

in reply to park_bear

As would I. I wonder why you were prescribed it instead of Azilect? Was there a reason? (Hope I’m not too nosy!). I requested it ofmy neuro but he prescribed Azilect instead. I had read a study from I think it was Sweden about its neuro protection.

park_bear profile image
park_bear in reply to

I was prescribed it because I asked for it. At the time I asked for it was having some fatigue. I thought it might be helpful for that. Not able to say if it makes a difference.

in reply to park_bear

Thank you. I use my bear chip clip on my bag of cinnamon in your honor. 😊

Marcia123 profile image
Marcia123 in reply to laglag

did you take it alone or with Levodopa?

laglag profile image
laglag in reply to Marcia123

I take Azilect along with C/L. 🥊

johntPM profile image
johntPM

Rasagiline (Azilect) is a difficult drug to assess, because it works in an indirect way: it inhibits MAO-B, which leads to dopamine lasting longer. Tables of levodopa equivalent dose show that 1 mg of rasagiline has about the same total effect as 100 mg levodopa (taken with carbidopa). But, whereas levodopa has a short half-life, about 90 minutes, giving an effective period of 4 hours, say; rasagiline lasts in effect for 24 hours. Therefore, its power at any one time is only about 1/6 that of levodopa. So, you probably don't notice it, but it is working in the background. This gives you a more stable foundation, leading to less severe "off" periods and, possibly, less severe dyskinesia.

in reply to johntPM

Thank you! Approx 1/6 the power or impact of levodopa gives me a better sense of its strength. Have you gone off and on with it and noticed any difference?

My motivation is to try and determine my baseline, what I’m like unmediated and just with vitamins and supplements.

johntPM profile image
johntPM

I've been on rasagiline for about 16 years, so I don't really have anything to compare it with, but I don't ever have any complete "offs" or any dyskinesia. My daily PD drug regimen is:5 x 75 mg Stalevo =500 mg LED;

8 mg ropinirole = 160 mg LED;

1 mg rasagiline = 100 mg LED.

scubanurse profile image
scubanurse

I’ve been taking rasagiline 1mg for 7 years. Started it about 1 month after I was diagnosed with PD. The only thing I noticed was slight mood elevation. Did nothing for the pain in both shoulders and a mild tremor of L hand. Currently my Medicare drug plan is denying coverage and wants me to take selegiline instead. I’m considering weaning off.

in reply to scubanurse

Please, see my post with a link to a long article about Selegiline. It is Neuroprotective! The old one is the good one!

Priscilla13 profile image
Priscilla13

Azilect was the first drug I took after being diagnosed with Parkinson's, I took it for three months then my neurologist stopped it for lack of benefit; indeed there had been no improvement in symptoms (however still very mild at that time). Subsequently, over the years, I have not heard particularly favorable opinions; according to a widespread opinion it had disappointed the high expectations that there were about Rasagiline.

However, every Parkinson's patient is a unique case and that is why treatments for Parkinson's also need trials and attempts.

PalmSprings profile image
PalmSprings

Hi, I took a break to see if Azilect made a difference. I initially was prescribed Sinemet to confirm diagnosis. Sinemet worked really well for me. Once diagnosis was confirmed by the successful abatement of symptoms by the Sinemet. My neurologist then took me off Sinemet and prescribed Azilect as a single therapy. I didn’t think I got relief from the Azilect, so he added back some Sinemet. After a while, I wondered if the Azilect was helping and/or if the side effects were worth taking the prescription. And it is very expensive. So I took myself off of the Azilect. Long story short, I discovered that the combination of Azilect and Sinemet worked best for me. And I found subtle benefits, worth taking for me. Experimenting helped me confirm the need for my conditions. Cheers

in reply to PalmSprings

Thank you! Just confirming, when you took Azilect alone you did not detect improvements but when taking it with CL you do? Very interesting. I wonder what the process is behind that. If you are on Azilect still, I hope you will please read my post with the article about Selegiline. Huge in person trials and studies showed it slowed progression.

amykp profile image
amykp

Hi CC, are you who I think you are? Anyway, I've been taking 1mg Azilect for about 6yrs, w/o Sinemet. Can't say I feel much of anything, though I've never taken more than about a 2 day holiday. I take it on the off chance it might be neuroprotective.

Your article is intriguing for sure. The one downside I understand about selegiline is that is not as targeted an MAO inhibitor, which means you have to be careful what you eat (the whole fermented foods/tyramine thing ...right?) And I'm lazy about stuff like that. Though obviously that pales in the face of a real PD treatment, if it's true.

in reply to amykp

Hi Amy! Yep, I’m back. Since lemonade is unhealthy I changed my name to raspberry since raspberries are very healthy! ☺️ I did not know you still are not on sinemet. Bravo at keeping the need for it at bay!

The tyramine aspect of it is such a valid concern because so many of the tyramine rich foods are very healthy. I have been researching that and will post my findings at some point.

Are you still doing keto?

I think we are in the same state. I just moved here. 😊

amykp profile image
amykp in reply to

Ha, well, since we grow lemons we make lemonade with monkfruit. But you know, since I DO still eat keto, I just can't worry too much about artificial sweeteners. Just because I gave up sugar doesn't mean I want to go the rest of my life without anything sweet!

Probably 90% of what I eat I cook myself but, I do drink diet soda now and again. I buy commercial keto ice cream and I've just been seduced by keto bread. I feel like it's the lesser evil.

I live near Disney World. That's why I am happy all the time! ;o)

JohnPepper profile image
JohnPepper

I changed from Sinemet and Symmetrel to Azilect in 1994. I had been on them for two years after diagniosis in 1992. By 1998 most of my movement symptoms had disappeared, but I contonued taking the Azilect until 2002. I am no 87 anm have lived a normallife, Pd medicayion-free.

It was not only thr medication that had that much to do with the improvement. Fast Walking was the main reason why I got better, butb getting rid of stress , doing regular brain exercises. changinf my attitude tom 'Positive'and finally, the most important one, I learned how to take conscious control of my

Heldover101 profile image
Heldover101 in reply to JohnPepper

Odd that you took Azilect starting in 1994. It wasn’t approved for sale until 2005

Hikoi profile image
Hikoi in reply to JohnPepper

You are right heldover and it was 2006 in the states

JohnPepper profile image
JohnPepper in reply to Hikoi

On reding my posting I was wondering how anybody understood it. My tremors must have been quite bad that day, for which I appologize for not editing before posting.

Marcia123 profile image
Marcia123

I had a really bad experience With Azilect. My muscles got weaker and I could barely walk. Also I got a fever and itching.

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