Rasagiline

Rasagiline tablets are indicated for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD).  

Rasagiline tablets 0.5 mg: white to off-white, round tablets, debossed with

Rasagiline tablets 1 mg: white to off-white, round tablets, debossed with

The following adverse reactions are described in more detail in the

• Hypertension
  
  
  [see
  
  

  5.1 Hypertension

  Exacerbation of hypertension may occur during treatment with rasagiline. Medication adjustment may be necessary if elevation of blood pressure is sustained. Monitor patients for new onset hypertension or hypertension that is not adequately controlled after starting rasagiline.

  In Study 3, rasagiline (1 mg/day) given in conjunction with levodopa, produced an increased incidence of significant blood pressure elevation (systolic > 180 or diastolic > 100 mm Hg) of 4% compared to 3% for placebo

  [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)].

  When used as an adjunct to levodopa (Studies 3 and 4), the risk for developing post-treatment high blood pressure (e.g., systolic > 180 or diastolic >100 mm Hg) combined with a significant increase from baseline (e.g., systolic > 30 or diastolic > 20 mm Hg) was higher for rasagiline (2%) compared to placebo (1%).

  Dietary tyramine restriction is not required during treatment with recommended doses of rasagiline. However, certain foods that may contain very high amounts (i.e., more than 150 mg) of tyramine that could potentially cause severe hypertension because of tyramine interaction (including various clinical syndromes referred to as hypertensive urgency, crisis, or emergency) in patients taking rasagiline, even at the recommended doses, due to increased sensitivity to tyramine. Patients should be advised to avoid foods containing a very large amount of tyramine while taking recommended doses of rasagiline because of the potential for large increases in blood pressure including clinical syndromes referred to as hypertensive urgency, crisis, or emergency. Rasagiline is a selective inhibitor of MAO-B at the recommended doses of 0.5 or 1 mg daily. Selectivity for inhibiting MAO-B diminishes in a dose-related manner as the dose is progressively increased above the recommended daily doses.

  ]
  
  
• Serotonin Syndrome
  
  
  [see
  
  

  5.2 Serotonin Syndrome

  Serotonin syndrome has been reported with concomitant use of an antidepressant (e.g., selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors-SSRIs, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors-SNRIs, tricyclic antidepressants, tetracyclic antidepressants, triazolopyridine antidepressants) and a nonselective MAOI (e.g., phenelzine, tranylcypromine) or selective MAO-B inhibitors, such as selegiline (Eldepryl) and rasagiline. Serotonin syndrome has also been reported with concomitant use of rasagiline with meperidine, tramadol, methadone, or propoxyphene. Rasagiline is contraindicated for use with meperidine, tramadol, methadone, propoxyphene, and MAO inhibitors (MAOIs), including other selective MAO-B inhibitors

  [see Contraindications (4)and Drug Interactions ].

  In the postmarketing period, potentially life-threatening serotonin syndrome has been reported in patients treated with antidepressants concomitantly with rasagiline. Concomitant use of rasagiline with one of many classes of antidepressants (e.g., SSRIs, SNRIs, triazolopyridine, tricyclic or tetracyclic antidepressants) is not recommended

  [see Drug Interactions (7.5)].

  The symptoms of serotonin syndrome have included behavioral and cognitive/mental status changes (e.g., confusion, hypomania, hallucinations, agitation, delirium, headache, and coma), autonomic effects (e.g., syncope, shivering, sweating, high fever/hyperthermia, hypertension, tachycardia, nausea, diarrhea), and somatic effects (e.g., muscular rigidity, myoclonus, muscle twitching, hyperreflexia manifested by clonus, and tremor). Serotonin syndrome can result in death.

  Rasagiline clinical trials did not allow concomitant use of fluoxetine or fluvoxamine with rasagiline, and the potential drug interaction between rasagiline and antidepressants has not been studied systematically. Although a small number of rasagiline -treated patients were concomitantly exposed to antidepressants (tricyclics n=115; SSRIs n=141), the exposure, both in dose and number of subjects, was not adequate to rule out the possibility of an untoward reaction from combining these agents. At least 14 days should elapse between discontinuation of rasagiline and initiation of treatment with a SSRI, SNRI, tricyclic, tetracyclic, or triazolopyridine antidepressant. Because of the long half-lives of certain antidepressants (e.g., fluoxetine and its active metabolite), at least five weeks (perhaps longer, especially if fluoxetine has been prescribed chronically and/or at higher doses) should elapse between discontinuation of fluoxetine and initiation of rasagiline

  [see Drug Interactions (7.5)].

  ]
  
  
• Falling Asleep During Activities of Daily Living and Somnolence
  
  
  [see
  
  

  5.3 Falling Asleep During Activities of Daily Living and Somnolence

  It has been reported that falling asleep while engaged in activities of daily living always occurs in a setting of preexisting somnolence, although patients may not give such a history. For this reason, prescribers should monitor patients for drowsiness or sleepiness, because some of the events occur well after initiation of treatment with dopaminergic medication. Prescribers should also be aware that patients may not acknowledge drowsiness or sleepiness until directly questioned about drowsiness or sleepiness during specific activities.

  Cases of patients treated with rasagiline and other dopaminergic medications have reported falling asleep while engaged in activities of daily living including the operation of motor vehicles, which sometimes resulted in accidents. Although many of these patients reported somnolence while on rasagiline with other dopaminergic medications, some perceived that they had no warning signs, such as excessive drowsiness, and believed that they were alert immediately prior to the event. Some of these events have been reported more than 1-year after initiation of treatment.

  In Study 3, somnolence was a common occurrence in patients receiving rasagiline and was more frequent in patients with Parkinson’s disease receiving rasagiline than in respective patients receiving placebo (6% rasagiline compared to 4% Placebo)

  [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)].

  Before initiating treatment with rasagiline, patients should be advised of the potential to develop drowsiness and specifically asked about factors that may increase the risk with rasagiline such as concomitant sedating medications, the presence of sleep disorders, and concomitant medications that increase rasagiline plasma levels (e.g., ciprofloxacin)

  [see Drug Interactions (7.6)].

  If a patient develops significant daytime sleepiness or episodes of falling asleep during activities that require active participation (e.g., driving a motor vehicle, conversations, eating), rasagiline should ordinarily be discontinued. If a decision is made to continue these patients on rasagiline, advise them to avoid driving and other potentially dangerous activities. There is insufficient information to establish that dose reduction will eliminate episodes of falling asleep while engaged in activities of daily living.

  ]
  
  
• Hypotension / Orthostatic Hypotension
  
  
  [see
  
  

  5.6 Hypotension/Orthostatic Hypotension

  In Study 3, the incidence of orthostatic hypotension consisting of a systolic blood pressure decrease (

  >

  30 mm Hg) or a diastolic blood pressure decrease (

  >

  20 mm Hg) after standing was 13% with rasagiline (1 mg/day) compared to 9% with placebo

  [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)].

  At the 1 mg dose, the frequency of orthostatic hypotension (at any time during the study) was approximately 44% for rasagiline vs 33% for placebo for mild to moderate systolic blood pressure decrements (

  >

  20 mm Hg), 40% for rasagiline vs 33% for placebo for mild to moderate diastolic blood pressure decrements (

  >

  10 mm Hg), 7% for rasagiline vs 3% for placebo for severe systolic blood pressure decrements (

  >

  40 mm Hg), and 9% for rasagiline vs 6% for placebo for severe diastolic blood pressure decrements (≥ 20 mm Hg). There was also an increased risk for some of these abnormalities at the lower 0.5 mg daily dose and for an individual patient having mild to moderate or severe orthostatic hypotension for both systolic and diastolic blood pressure.

  In Study 2 where rasagiline was given as an adjunct therapy in patients not taking concomitant levodopa, there were 5 reports of orthostatic hypotension in patients taking rasagiline 1 mg (3.1%) and 1 report in patients taking placebo (0.6%)

  [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)].

  Clinical trial data further suggest that orthostatic hypotension occurs most frequently in the first two months of rasagiline treatment and tends to decrease over time.

  Some patients treated with rasagiline experienced a mildly increased risk for significant decreases in blood pressure unrelated to standing but while supine.

  The risk for post-treatment hypotension (e.g., systolic < 90 or diastolic < 50 mm Hg) combined with a significant decrease from baseline (e.g., systolic > 30 or diastolic > 20 mm Hg) was higher for rasagiline 1 mg (3.2%) compared to placebo (1.3%).

  There was no clear increased risk for lowering of blood pressure or postural hypotension associated with rasagiline 1 mg/day as monotherapy.

  When used as an adjunct to levodopa, postural hypotension was also reported as an adverse reaction in approximately 6% of patients treated with rasagiline 0.5 mg, 9% of patients treated with rasagiline 1 mg and 3% of patients treated with placebo. Postural hypotension led to drug discontinuation and premature withdrawal from clinical trials in one (0.7%) patient treated with rasagiline 1 mg/day, no patients treated with rasagiline 0.5 mg/day and no placebo-treated patients.

  ]
  
  
• Dyskinesia
  
  
  [see
  
  

  5.7 Dyskinesia

  When used as an adjunct to levodopa, rasagiline may cause dyskinesia or potentiate dopaminergic side effects and exacerbate preexisting dyskinesia. In Study 3, the incidence of dyskinesia was 18% for patients treated with 0.5 mg or 1 mg rasagiline as an adjunct to levodopa and 10% for patients treated with placebo as an adjunct to levodopa. Decreasing the dose of levodopa may mitigate this side effect

  [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)].

  ]
  
  
• Hallucinations / Psychotic-Like Behavior
  
  
  [see
  
  

  5.8 Hallucinations / Psychotic-Like Behavior

  In the monotherapy study (Study 1), the incidence of hallucinations reported as an adverse event was 1.3% in patients treated with rasagiline 1 mg and 0.7% in patients treated with placebo. In Study 1, the incidence of hallucinations reported as an adverse reaction and leading to drug discontinuation and premature withdrawal was 1.3% in patients treated with rasagiline 1 mg and 0% in placebo-treated patients.

  When studied as an adjunct therapy without levodopa (Study 2), hallucinations were reported as an adverse reaction in 1.2% of patients treated with 1 mg/day rasagiline and 1.8% of patients treated with placebo. Hallucinations led to drug discontinuation and premature withdrawal from the clinical trial in 0.6% of patients treated with rasagiline 1 mg/day and in none of the placebo- treated patients.

  When studied as an adjunct to levodopa (Study 3), the incidence of hallucinations was approximately 5% in patients treated with rasagiline 0.5 mg/day, 4% in patients treated with rasagiline 1 mg/day, and 3% in patients treated with placebo. The incidence of hallucinations leading to drug discontinuation and premature withdrawal was about 1% in patients treated with 0.5 mg rasagiline and 1 mg rasagiline/day, and 0% in placebo-treated patients

  [see Adverse Reactions (6.1)].

  Postmarketing reports indicate that patients may experience new or worsening mental status and behavioral changes, which may be severe, including psychotic-like behavior during treatment with rasagiline or after starting or increasing the dose of rasagiline. Other drugs prescribed to improve the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease can have similar effects on thinking and behavior. This abnormal thinking and behavior can consist of one or more of a variety of manifestations including paranoid ideation, delusions, hallucinations, confusion, psychotic-like behavior, disorientation, aggressive behavior, agitation, and delirium.

  Patients should be informed of the possibility of developing hallucinations and instructed to report them to their healthcare provider promptly should they develop.

  Patients with a major psychotic disorder should ordinarily not be treated with rasagiline because of the risk of exacerbating the psychosis with an increase in central dopaminergic tone. In addition, many treatments for psychosis that decrease central dopaminergic tone may decrease the effectiveness of rasagiline

  [see Drug Interactions (7.8)].

  Consider dose reduction or stopping the medication if a patient develops hallucinations or psychotic like behaviors while taking rasagiline.

  ]
  
  
• Impulse Control /Compulsive Behaviors
  
  
  [see
  
  

  5.9 Impulse Control/Compulsive Behaviors

  Case reports suggest that patients can experience intense urges to gamble, increased sexual urges, intense urges to spend money, binge eating, and/or other intense urges, and the inability to control these urges while taking one or more of the medications, including rasagiline, that increase central dopaminergic tone and that are generally used for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease. In some cases, although not all, these urges were reported to have stopped when the dose was reduced or the medication was discontinued. Because patients may not recognize these behaviors as abnormal, it is important for prescribers to specifically ask patients or their caregivers about the development of new or increased gambling urges, sexual urges, uncontrolled spending, or other urges while being treated with rasagiline. Consider dose reduction or stopping the medication if a patient develops such urges while taking rasagiline.

  ]
  
  
• Withdrawal-Emergent Hyperpyrexia and Confusion
  
  
  [see
  
  

  5.10 Withdrawal-Emergent Hyperpyrexia and Confusion

  A symptom complex resembling neuroleptic malignant syndrome (characterized by elevated temperature, muscular rigidity, altered consciousness, and autonomic instability), with no other obvious etiology, has been reported in association with rapid dose reduction, withdrawal of, or changes in drugs that increase central dopaminergic tone.

  ]
  
  

Rasagiline tablets contain rasagiline (as the mesylate), a propargylamine-based drug indicated for the treatment of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. Rasagiline mesylate is designated chemically as: 1H-Inden-1-amine, 2, 3-dihydro-N-2-propynyl-, (1R)-, methanesulfonate. The molecular formula of rasagiline mesylate is C
₁₂H
₁₃N•CH
₄SO
₃and its molecular weight is 267.34.

Its structural formula is: 

Rasagiline mesylate is a white to off-white powder, freely soluble in water or ethanol and sparingly soluble in isopropanol. Each rasagiline tablet for oral administration contains rasagiline mesylate equivalent to 0.5 mg or 1 mg of rasagiline base. 

Each rasagiline tablet also contains the following inactive ingredients: corn starch, colloidal silicon dioxide, mannitol, pregelatinized starch, stearic acid and talc. 

The effectiveness of rasagiline for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease was established in four 18- to 26-week, randomized, placebo-controlled trials, as initial monotherapy or adjunct therapy.