Selegiline
Selegiline is an MAO-B inhibitor that works alongside levodopa in Parkinson's disease; Eldepryl tablets are sold here in 5mg and 10mg strengths.
Where selegiline fits in Parkinson's treatment
Parkinson's disease damages nerve cells in a part of the brain that produces dopamine, the messenger behind smooth, controlled movement. Tremor, stiffness and slow movement follow. Levodopa, usually taken with carbidopa, replaces some of that dopamine and remains the backbone of treatment; selegiline is used alongside it in people already taking that combination, every day over the long term.
Inside the brain, an enzyme called monoamine oxidase type B breaks dopamine down. Selegiline switches that enzyme off, which leaves the dopamine produced from levodopa in place for longer. People often find that a lower levodopa dose is then enough, and that a dose carries them to the next one without wearing off early. Selegiline adds to levodopa rather than standing in for it, and it does not cure Parkinson's.
Eldepryl tablets in 5mg and 10mg
Eldepryl is the selegiline product sold here: tablets in 5mg and 10mg strengths. Tablets are usually taken twice a day, one with breakfast and one with lunch, and 10mg in a day is the most that is normally taken — useful to know when you pick a strength and pack size. Keep them in the pack they arrive in, somewhere dry and out of direct sunlight.
Selegiline is also made as capsules and as tablets that dissolve on the tongue. The questions below cover how those are taken differently.
What people notice, and what matters more
Nausea, dizziness, dry mouth, stomach ache, headache and trouble sleeping are the complaints reported most often. Added to levodopa, selegiline can bring out jerky, involuntary movements; these usually settle once the levodopa dose comes down.
Two things matter more than the rest. A large overdose of selegiline can send blood pressure up suddenly and steeply. And stopping it abruptly can bring on fever, heavy sweating, stiff muscles and loss of consciousness.
What it should not be mixed with
Pethidine (meperidine) is the best-known danger with any MAO inhibitor, and the painkillers tramadol, methadone and propoxyphene belong on the same list. Dextromethorphan, the cough suppressant in many over-the-counter syrups, should also be kept apart, along with any second product containing selegiline or another MAO inhibitor.
At the usual 10mg daily dose, selegiline acts selectively on MAO-B. Take much more and that selectivity fades, and tyramine-rich food — aged cheese, cured meat, fermented soy — can push blood pressure up sharply.
Sources
- Selegiline: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus / U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Parkinson's Disease | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke — NINDS / NIH
Can I order Selegiline online in Hong Kong?
Selegiline can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong. The page lists generic Eldepryl tablets in 5mg and 10mg. Payment is by Visa, Mastercard or American Express on a secure, encrypted payment page, or by Bitcoin or Ethereum.
What is the price of Selegiline?
The price depends on the strength and pack size you choose. The Eldepryl page shows current prices in HKD or the currency you select.
Do I need a prescription to order Selegiline?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order selegiline. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What is another name for selegiline?
Eldepryl is a brand name of selegiline, which is also sold as Jumex, Zelapar and Emsam. Here, selegiline can be bought online as generic Eldepryl. These are generics, not the original brand.
Can selegiline be taken with levodopa?
Yes, that is exactly how it is used. Selegiline is taken by people who are already on levodopa with carbidopa, and it can lower the levodopa dose needed while keeping each dose effective for longer. It is not usually given on its own for Parkinson's disease.
How many times a day is selegiline taken?
Tablets and capsules are normally taken twice a day, with breakfast and with lunch. The dissolving tablet works differently: one before breakfast, with nothing eaten or drunk for five minutes either side, and it is left to melt on the tongue rather than swallowed.
Why is selegiline called an MAO-B inhibitor?
MAO-B is short for monoamine oxidase type B, an enzyme in the brain that breaks dopamine down. Selegiline blocks that enzyme, so the dopamine made from levodopa is cleared more slowly and more of it remains available to help with movement.
What if I miss a dose of selegiline?
A missed dose can still be taken later the same day if there is a good gap before the next one is due. If the next dose is close, let the missed one go and carry on as normal — taking two together is not the way to catch up.
Does selegiline cure Parkinson's disease?
No. It helps control tremor, stiffness and slowness, and it can stretch out the effect of each levodopa dose, but it does not replace the dopamine-producing cells that Parkinson's damages and it does not stop the condition progressing.