What is the use of Rasagiline (monoamine oxidase B inhibitor)?

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Last updated: February 15, 2025View editorial policy

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From the FDA Drug Label

Rasagiline tablets are a selective, irreversible MAO-B inhibitor indicated for the treatment of idiopathic Parkinson’s disease Rasagiline tablets, a monoamine oxidase (MAO)-B inhibitor (MAOI), is indicated for the treatment of Parkinson's disease

The use of Rasagiline is for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. It acts as a monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitor to increase the levels of dopamine in the brain, which helps to mediate its beneficial effects in patients with Parkinson's disease 1 1.

From the Research

Use of Rasagiline

Rasagiline is a selective and irreversible monoamine oxidase B inhibitor used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. The primary use of rasagiline includes:

  • Improving motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
  • Preventing motor complications in Parkinson's disease 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
  • Reducing "off" time in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Efficacy of Rasagiline

The efficacy of rasagiline has been demonstrated in several clinical trials, including:

  • Monotherapy in early Parkinson's disease, where rasagiline 1mg/day reduced the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) score [-3.06 (95% CI -3.81 to -2.31, p<0.00001)] 2
  • Adjunctive treatment to levodopa, where 1mg/day of rasagiline reduced "off" time [-0.93h (95% CI -1.17 to -0.69, p<0.00001)] 2
  • Reducing wearing-off time, levodopa dosage, UPDRS/MDS-UPDRS II and III scores, and Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) summary index score in patients with Parkinson's disease experiencing motor fluctuations 5

Safety and Tolerability

Rasagiline has been shown to be well tolerated and safe in clinical trials, with:

  • Infrequent cardiovascular or psychiatric side effects 3
  • No requirement for tyramine restriction at the recommended therapeutic dose of up to 1 mg once daily 3
  • A similar safety profile to that of levodopa in Parkinson's disease with motor fluctuations 5

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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