Orally disintegrating selegiline for the treatment of Parkinson's disease

Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2008 Nov;9(16):2881-91. doi: 10.1517/14656566.9.16.2881.

Abstract

The selective monoamine oxidase type B inhibitor selegiline is commonly administered as medical treatment to patients suffering from Parkinson's disease. The clinical value of conventional selegiline is, however, compromised by extensive first-pass metabolism, which reduces its bioavailability and leads to the production of possibly harmful methamfetamine metabolites. This review aims to evaluate a novel, orally disintegrating formulation of selegiline by examining scientific evidence from previous pharmacological and clinical studies. As a result of improved bioavailability, orally disintegrating selegiline can be administered at lower doses than conventional selegiline with similar clinical effect. It also leads to less variable selegiline blood concentrations and produces significantly less methamfetamine metabolites. We conclude that this novel formulation offers an interesting treatment option, especially for patients who report adverse events after initial treatment with conventional selegiline or who suffer from swallowing difficulties.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Drug Tolerance
  • Humans
  • Integrative Medicine
  • Parkinson Disease / drug therapy*
  • Parkinson Disease / metabolism
  • Selegiline / administration & dosage*
  • Selegiline / metabolism
  • Selegiline / therapeutic use*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Selegiline