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AZILECT
(rasagiline mesylate) Tablets
AZILECT® tablets contain rasagiline (as the mesylate), a propargylamine-based drug indicated for the treatment of idiopathic Parkinson's disease. It is designated chemically as: 1H-Inden-1amine, 2, 3-dihydro-N-2-propynyl-, (1R)-, methanesulfonate. The empirical formula of rasagiline mesylate is (C12H13N)CH4SO3 and 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 AZILECT tablet for oral administration contains rasagiline mesylate equivalent to 0.5 mg or 1 mg of rasagiline base.
Each AZILECT tablet also contains the following inactive ingredients: mannitol, starch, pregelatinized starch, colloidal silicon dioxide, stearic acid and talc.
AZILECT (rasagiline tablets) is indicated for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD).
When AZILECT is prescribed as monotherapy or as adjunct therapy in patients not taking levodopa, patients may start AZILECT at the recommended dose of 1 mg administered orally once daily.
In patients taking levodopa, with or without other PD drugs (e.g., dopamine agonist, amantadine, anticholinergics), the recommended initial dose of AZILECT is 0.5 mg once daily. If the patient tolerates the daily 0.5 mg dose, but a sufficient clinical response is not achieved, the dose may be increased to 1 mg once daily. When AZILECT is used in combination with levodopa, a reduction of the levodopa dose may be considered, based upon individual response.
The recommended doses of AZILECT should not be exceeded because of risk of hypertension [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Patients taking concomitant ciprofloxacin or other CYP1A2 inhibitors should not exceed a dose of AZILECT 0.5 mg once daily [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS, DRUG INTERACTIONS, and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Patients with mild hepatic impairment should not exceed a dose of AZILECT 0.5 mg once daily. AZILECT should not be used in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS, Use In Specific Populations, and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
AZILECT 0.5 mg Tablets: White to off-white, round, flat, beveled tablets, debossed with “GIL 0.5” on one side and plain on the other side containing, as the active ingredient, rasagiline mesylate equivalent to 0.5 mg of rasagiline base.
AZILECT 1 mg Tablets: White to off-white, round, flat, beveled tablets, debossed with “GIL 1” on one side and plain on the other side containing, as the active ingredient, rasagiline mesylate equivalent to 1 mg of rasagiline base.
White to off-white, round, flat, beveled tablets, debossed with “GIL 0.5” on one side and plain on the other side. Supplied as bottles of 30 tablets (NDC 68546-142-56).
White to off-white, round, flat, beveled tablets, debossed with “GIL 1” on one side and plain on the other side. Supplied as bottles of 30 tablets (NDC 68546-229-56).
Store at 25°C (77°F) with excursions permitted to 15°-30°C (59°-86°F).
Marketed by: TEVA Neuroscience, Inc., Overland Park, KS 66211. Distributed by: TEVA Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., North Wales, PA 19454. Revised: May 2014.
The following adverse reactions are described in more detail in the WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS section of the label:
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to the incidence of adverse reactions in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates of adverse reactions observed in practice.
During the clinical development of AZILECT, Parkinson's disease patients received AZILECT as initial monotherapy (Study 1) and as adjunct therapy (Study 2, Study 3, Study 4). As the populations in these studies differ, not only in the adjunct use of dopamine agonists or levodopa during AZILECT treatment, but also in the severity and duration of their disease, the adverse reactions are presented separately for each study.
In Study 1, approximately 5% of the 149 patients treated with AZILECT discontinued treatment due to adverse reactions compared to 2% of the 151 patients who received placebo.
The only adverse reaction that led to the discontinuation of more than one patient was hallucinations.
The most commonly observed adverse reactions in Study 1 (incidence in AZILECT-treated patients 3% or greater than the incidence in placebo-treated patients) included flu syndrome, arthralgia, depression, and dyspepsia. Table 1 lists adverse reactions that occurred in 2% or greater of patients receiving AZILECT as monotherapy and were numerically more frequent than in the placebo group in Study 1.
Table 1: Adverse Reactions* in Study 1
| AZILECT 1 mg (N=149) |
Placebo (N=151) |
|
| % of Patients | % of Patients | |
| Headache | 14 | 12 |
| Arthralgia | 7 | 4 |
| Dyspepsia | 7 | 4 |
| Depression | 5 | 2 |
| AZILECT 1 mg (N=149) | Placebo (N=151) | |
| % of Patients | % of Patients | |
| Fall | 5 | 3 |
| Flu syndrome | 5 | 1 |
| Conjunctivitis | 3 | 1 |
| Fever | 3 | 1 |
| Gastroenteritis | 3 | 1 |
| Rhinitis | 3 | 1 |
| Arthritis | 2 | 1 |
| Ecchymosis | 2 | 0 |
| Malaise | 2 | 0 |
| Neck Pain | 2 | 0 |
| Paresthesia | 2 | 1 |
| Vertigo | 2 | 1 |
| *Incidence 2% or greater in AZILECT 1 mg group and numerically more frequent than in placebo group | ||
There were no significant differences in the safety profile based on age or gender.
AZILECT was studied as an adjunct therapy without levodopa (Study 2), or as an adjunct therapy to levodopa, with some patients also taking dopamine agonists, COMT inhibitors, anticholinergics, or amantadine (Study 3 and Study 4).
In Study 2, approximately 8% of the 162 patients treated with AZILECT discontinued treatment due to adverse reactions compared to 4% of the 164 patients who received placebo.
Adverse reactions that led to the discontinuation of more than one patient were nausea and dizziness.
The most commonly observed adverse reactions in Study 2 (incidence in AZILECT-treated patients 3% or greater than incidence in placebo-treated patients) included peripheral edema, fall, arthralgia, cough, and insomnia. Table 2 lists adverse reactions that occurred in 2% or greater in patients receiving AZILECT as adjunct therapy without levodopa and numerically more frequent than in the placebo group in Study 2.
Table 2: Adverse Reactions*
in Study 2
| AZILECT 1 mg (N=162) |
Placebo (N=164) |
|
| % of Patients | % of Patients | |
| Dizziness | 7 | 6 |
| Peripheral edema | 7 | 4 |
| Headache | 6 | 4 |
| Nausea | 6 | 4 |
| Fall | 6 | 1 |
| Arthralgia | 5 | 2 |
| Back pain | 4 | 3 |
| Cough | 4 | 1 |
| Insomnia | 4 | 1 |
| Upper respiratory tract infection | 4 | 2 |
| Orthostatic hypotension | 3 | 1 |
| *Incidence 2% or greater in AZILECT 1 mg group and numerically more frequent than in placebo group | ||
There were no significant differences in the safety profile based on age or gender.
In Study 3, adverse event reporting was considered more reliable than Study 4; therefore, only the adverse event data from Study 3 are presented below.
In Study 3, approximately 9% of the 164 patients treated with AZILECT 0.5 mg/day and 7% of the 149 patients treated with AZILECT 1 mg/day discontinued treatment due to adverse reactions, compared to 6% of the 159 patients who received placebo. The adverse reactions that led to discontinuation of more than one AZILECT-treated patient were diarrhea, weight loss, hallucination, and rash.
The most commonly observed adverse reactions in Study 3 (incidence in AZILECT-treated patients 3% or greater than the incidence in placebo-treated patients) included dyskinesia, accidental injury, weight loss, postural hypotension, vomiting, anorexia, arthralgia, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, dry mouth, rash, abnormal dreams, fall and tenosynovitis.
Table 3 lists adverse reactions that occurred in 2% or greater of patients treated with AZILECT 1 mg/day and that were numerically more frequent than the placebo group in Study 3.
Table 3: Adverse Reactions*
in Study 3
| AZILECT 1 mg (N=149) |
AZILECT 0.5 mg (N=164) |
Placebo (N=159) |
|
| % of patients | % of patients | % of patients | |
| Dyskinesia | 18 | 18 | 10 |
| Accidental injury | 12 | 8 | 5 |
| Nausea | 12 | 10 | 8 |
| Headache | 11 | 8 | 10 |
| Fall | 11 | 12 | 8 |
| Weight loss | 9 | 2 | 3 |
| Constipation | 9 | 4 | 5 |
| Postural hypotension | 9 | 6 | 3 |
| Arthralgia | 8 | 6 | 4 |
| Vomiting | 7 | 4 | 1 |
| AZILECT 1 mg (N=149) | AZILECT 0.5 mg (N=164) | Placebo (N=159) |
|
| % of patients | % of patients | % of patients | |
| Dry mouth | 6 | 2 | 3 |
| Rash | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| Somnolence | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| Abdominal pain | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| Anorexia | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| Diarrhea | 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Ecchymosis | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| Dyspepsia | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Paresthesia | 5 | 2 | 3 |
| Abnormal dreams | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Hallucinations | 4 | 5 | 3 |
| Ataxia | 3 | 6 | 1 |
| Dyspnea | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| Infection | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Neck pain | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Sweating | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Tenosynovitis | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Dystonia | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Gingivitis | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Hemorrhage | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Hernia | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Myasthenia | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| *Incidence 2% or greater in AZILECT 1 mg group and numerically more frequent than in placebo group Several of the more common adverse reactions seemed dose-related, including weight loss, postural hypotension, and dry mouth. There were no significant differences in the safety profile based on age or gender. During all Parkinson's disease phase 2/3 clinical trials, the long-term safety profile was similar to that observed with shorter duration exposure. | |||
Serious, sometimes fatal reactions have been precipitated with concomitant use of meperidine (e.g., Demerol and other tradenames) and MAO inhibitors including selective MAO-B inhibitors [see CONTRAINDICATIONS].
The concomitant use of AZILECT and dextromethorphan was not allowed in clinical studies. The combination of MAO inhibitors and dextromethorphan has been reported to cause brief episodes of psychosis or bizarre behavior. Therefore, in view of AZILECT's MAO inhibitory activity, dextromethorphan is contraindicated for use with AZILECT [see CONTRAINDICATIONS].
AZILECT is contraindicated for use with other MAO inhibitors because of the increased risk of nonselective MAO inhibition that may lead to a hypertensive crisis [see CONTRAINDICATIONS].
The concomitant use of AZILECT and sympathomimetic medications was not allowed in clinical studies. Severe hypertensive reactions have followed the administration of sympathomimetics and nonselective MAO inhibitors. Hypertensive crisis has been reported in patients taking the recommended dose of AZILECT and sympathomimetic medications. Severe hypertension has been reported in patients taking the recommended dose of AZILECT and ophthalmic drops containing sympathomimetic medications.
Because AZILECT is a selective MAOI, hypertensive reactions are not ordinarily expected with the concomitant use of sympathomimetic medications. Nevertheless, caution should be exercised when concomitantly using recommended doses of AZILECT with any sympathomimetic medications including nasal, oral, and ophthalmic decongestants and cold remedies.
Concomitant use of AZILECT with one of many classes of antidepressants (e.g., SSRIs, SNRIs, triazolopyridine, tricyclic or tetracyclic antidepressants) is not recommended [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY]. Concomitant use of AZILECT and MAO inhibitors is contraindicated [see CONTRAINDICATIONS].
Rasagiline plasma concentrations may increase up to 2 fold in patients using concomitant ciprofloxacin and other CYP1A2 inhibitors. This could result in increased adverse events. Patients taking concomitant ciprofloxacin or other CYP1A2 inhibitors should not exceed a dose of AZILECT 0.5 mg once daily [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
MAO in the gastrointestinal tract and liver (primarily type A) provides protection from exogenous amines (e.g., tyramine) that have the capacity, if absorbed intact, to cause a tyramine reaction with hypertension including clinical syndromes referred to as hypertensive urgency, crisis, or emergency. Foods and medications containing large amounts of exogenous amines (e.g., from fermented cheese, herring, over-the-counter cough/cold medications) may cause release of norepinephrine resulting in a rise in systemic blood pressure.
Results of a special tyramine challenge study indicate that rasagiline is selective for MAO-B at recommended doses and can be used without dietary tyramine restriction. However, certain foods may contain very high amounts (i.e., 150 mg or greater) of tyramine and could potentially cause a hypertensive reaction in individual patients taking AZILECT due to increased sensitivity to tyramine. Selectivity for inhibiting MAO-B diminishes in a dose-related manner as the dose is progressively increased above the recommended daily doses.
There were no cases of hypertensive crisis in the clinical development program associated with 1 mg daily AZILECT treatment, in which most patients did not follow dietary tyramine restriction.
There have been postmarketing reports of patients who experienced significantly elevated blood pressure (including rare cases of hypertensive crisis) after ingestion of unknown amounts of tyramine-rich foods while taking recommended doses of AZILECT. Patients should be advised to avoid foods containing a very large amount of tyramine while taking recommended doses of AZILECT [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
It is possible that dopamine antagonists, such as antipsychotics or metoclopramide, could diminish the effectiveness of AZILECT.
AZILECT is not a controlled substance.
Studies conducted in mice and rats did not reveal any potential for drug abuse and dependence. Clinical trials have not revealed any evidence of the potential for abuse, tolerance or physical dependence; however, systematic studies in humans designed to evaluate these effects have not been performed.
Studies conducted in mice and rats did not reveal any potential for drug abuse and dependence. Clinical trials have not revealed any evidence of the potential for abuse, tolerance or physical dependence; however, systematic studies in humans designed to evaluate these effects have not been performed.
Included as part of the PRECAUTIONS section.
Exacerbation of hypertension may occur during treatment with AZILECT. 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 AZILECT.
In Study 3, AZILECT (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].
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 AZILECT (2%) compared to placebo (1%).
Dietary tyramine restriction is not required during treatment with recommended doses of AZILECT. 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 AZILECT, 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 AZILECT because of the potential for large increases in blood pressure including clinical syndromes referred to as hypertensive urgency, crisis, or emergency. AZILECT 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 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 (AZILECT). Serotonin syndrome has also been reported with concomitant use of AZILECT with meperidine, tramadol, methadone, or propoxyphene. AZILECT is contraindicated for use with meperidine, tramadol, methadone, propoxyphene and MAO inhibitors (MAOIs), including other selective MAO-B inhibitors [see CONTRAINDICATIONS and DRUG INTERACTIONS].
In the postmarketing period, potentially life-threatening serotonin syndrome has been reported in patients treated with antidepressants concomitantly with AZILECT. Concomitant use of AZILECT with one of many classes of antidepressants (e.g., SSRIs, SNRIs, triazolopyridine, tricyclic or tetracyclic antidepressants) is not recommended [see DRUG INTERACTIONS].
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.
AZILECT clinical trials did not allow concomitant use of fluoxetine or fluvoxamine with AZILECT, and the potential drug interaction between AZILECT and antidepressants has not been studied systematically. Although a small number of AZILECT-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 AZILECT 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 AZILECT [see DRUG INTERACTIONS].
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 AZILECT 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 AZILECT 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 AZILECT and was more frequent in patients with Parkinson's disease receiving AZILECT than in respective patients receiving placebo (6% AZILECT compared to 4% Placebo) [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Before initiating treatment with AZILECT, patients should be advised of the potential to develop drowsiness and specifically asked about factors that may increase the risk with AZILECT such as concomitant sedating medications, the presence of sleep disorders, and concomitant medications that increase rasagiline plasma levels (e.g., ciprofloxacin) [see DRUG INTERACTIONS]. 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), AZILECT should ordinarily be discontinued. If a decision is made to continue these patients on AZILECT, 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.
Rasagiline plasma concentrations may increase up to 2 fold in patients using concomitant ciprofloxacin and other CYP1A2 inhibitors. Patients taking concomitant ciprofloxacin or other CYP1A2 inhibitors should not exceed a dose of AZILECT 0.5 mg once daily [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION, DRUG INTERACTIONS, and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Rasagiline plasma concentration may increase in patients with hepatic impairment. Patients with mild hepatic impairment should be given the dose of AZILECT 0.5 mg once daily. AZILECT should not be used in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
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 AZILECT (1 mg/day) compared to 9% with placebo [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
At the 1 mg dose, the frequency of orthostatic hypotension (at any time during the study) was approximately 44% for AZILECT vs 33% for placebo for mild to moderate systolic blood pressure decrements (≥ 20 mm Hg), 40% for AZILECT vs 33% for placebo for mild to moderate diastolic blood pressure decrements (≥10 mm Hg), 7% for AZILECT vs 3% for placebo for severe systolic blood pressure decrements (≥ 40 mm Hg), and 9% for AZILECT 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 AZILECT was given as an adjunct therapy in patients not taking concomitant levodopa, there were 5 reports of orthostatic hypotension in patients taking AZILECT 1 mg (3.1%) and 1 report in patients taking placebo (0.6%) [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
Clinical trial data further suggest that orthostatic hypotension occurs most frequently in the first two months of AZILECT treatment and tends to decrease over time.
Some patients treated with AZILECT 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 AZILECT 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 AZILECT 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 AZILECT 0.5 mg, 9% of patients treated with AZILECT 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 AZILECT 1 mg/day, no patients treated with AZILECT 0.5 mg/day and no placebo-treated patients.
When used as an adjunct to levodopa, AZILECT may cause dyskinesia or potentiate dopaminergic side effects and exacerbate pre-existing dyskinesia. In Study 3, the incidence of dyskinesia was 18% for patients treated with 0.5 mg or 1 mg AZILECT 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].
In the monotherapy study (Study 1), the incidence of hallucinations reported as an adverse event was 1.3% in patients treated with AZILECT 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 AZILECT 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 AZILECT 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 AZILECT 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 AZILECT 0.5 mg/day, 4% in patients treated with AZILECT 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 AZILECT and 1 mg AZILECT/day, and 0% in placebo-treated patients [see ADVERSE REACTIONS].
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 AZILECT or after starting or increasing the dose of AZILECT. 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 health care provider promptly should they develop.
Patients with a major psychotic disorder should ordinarily not be treated with AZILECT 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 AZILECT [see DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Consider dose reduction or stopping the medication if a patient develops hallucinations or psychotic like behaviors while taking AZILECT.
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 AZILECT, 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 AZILECT. Consider dose reduction or stopping the medication if a patient develops such urges while taking AZILECT.
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.
Epidemiological studies have shown that patients with Parkinson's disease have a higher risk (2to approximately 6-fold higher) of developing melanoma than the general population. Whether the increased risk observed was due to Parkinson's disease or other factors, such as drugs used to treat Parkinson's disease, is unclear.
For the reasons stated above, patients and providers are advised to monitor for melanomas frequently and on a regular basis. Ideally, periodic skin examinations should be performed by appropriately qualified individuals (e.g., dermatologists).
Two-year carcinogenicity studies were conducted in mice at oral doses of 1, 15, and 45 mg/kg/day and in rats at oral doses of 0.3, 1, and 3 mg/kg/day (males) or 0.5, 2, 5, and 17 mg/kg/day (females). In rats, there was no increase in tumors at any dose tested. Plasma exposures (AUC) at the highest dose tested were approximately 33 and 260 times, in male and female rats, respectively, that in humans at the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) of 1 mg/day.
In mice, there was an increase in lung tumors (combined adenomas/carcinomas) at 15 and 45 mg/kg in males and females. At the lowest dose tested, plasma AUCs were approximately 5 times those expected in humans at the MRHD.
The carcinogenic potential of rasagiline administered in combination with levodopa/carbidopa has not been examined.
Rasagiline was reproducibly clastogenic in in vitro chromosomal aberration assays in human lymphocytes in the presence of metabolic activation and was mutagenic and clastogenic in the in vitro mouse lymphoma tk assay in the absence and presence of metabolic activation. Rasagiline was negative in the in vitro bacterial reverse mutation (Ames) assay and in the in vivo micronucleus assay in mice. Rasagiline was also negative in the in vivo micronucleus assay in mice when administered in combination with levodopa/carbidopa.
Rasagiline had no effect on mating performance or fertility in rats treated prior to and throughout the mating period and continuing in females through gestation day 17 at oral doses of up to 3 mg/kg/day (approximately 30 times the plasma AUC in humans at the MRHD). The effect of rasagiline administered in combination with levodopa/carbidopa on mating and fertility has not been examined.
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies of rasagiline in pregnant women. AZILECT should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.
In a combined mating/fertility and embryo-fetal development study in pregnant rats, no effect on embryo-fetal development was observed at oral doses up to 3 mg/kg/day (approximately 30 times the plasma exposure (AUC) in humans at the maximum recommended human dose [MRHD, 1 mg/day]).
In pregnant rabbits administered rasagiline throughout the period of organogenesis at oral doses of up to 36 mg/kg/day, no developmental toxicity was observed. At the highest dose tested, the plasma AUC was approximately 800 times that in humans at the MRHD.
In pregnant rats administered rasagiline (0.1, 0.3, 1 mg/kg/day) orally during gestation and lactation, offspring survival was decreased and offspring body weight was reduced at 0.3 mg/kg/day and 1 mg/kg/day (10 and 16 times the plasma AUC in humans at the MRHD). No plasma data were available at the no-effect dose (0.1 mg/kg); however, that dose is similar to the MRHD on a mg/m² basis. The effect of rasagiline on physical and behavioral development was not adequately assessed in this study.
Rasagiline may be given as an adjunct therapy to levodopa/carbidopa treatment. In pregnant rats administered rasagiline (0.1, 0.3, 1 mg/kg/day) and levodopa/carbidopa (80/20 mg/kg/day) (alone and in combination) orally throughout the period of organogenesis, there was an increased incidence of wavy ribs in fetuses from rats treated with rasagiline in combination with levodopa/carbidopa at 1/80/20 mg/kg/day (approximately 8 times the rasagiline plasma AUC in humans at the MRHD and similar to the MRHD of levodopa/carbidopa [800/200 mg/day] on a mg/m² basis). In pregnant rabbits dosed orally throughout the period of organogenesis with rasagiline alone (3 mg/kg) or in combination with levodopa/carbidopa (rasagiline: 0.1, 0.6, 1.2 mg/kg, levodopa/carbidopa: 80/20 mg/kg/day), an increase in embryo-fetal death was noted at rasagiline doses of 0.6 and 1.2 mg/kg/day when administered in combination with levodopa/carbidopa (approximately 7 and 13 times, respectively, the rasagiline plasma AUC in humans at the MRHD). There was an increase in cardiovascular abnormalities with levodopa/carbidopa alone (similar to the MRHD on a mg/m² basis) and to a greater extent when rasagiline (at all doses; 1-13 times the rasagiline plasma AUC in humans at the MRHD) was administered in combination with levodopa/carbidopa.
In rats rasagiline was shown to inhibit prolactin secretion and it may inhibit milk secretion in humans.
It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when AZILECT is administered to a nursing woman.
The safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.
Approximately half of patients in clinical trials were 65 years and over. There were no significant differences in the safety profile of the geriatric and nongeriatric patients.
Rasagiline plasma concentration may be increased in patients with mild (up to 2 fold, Child-Pugh score 5-6), moderate (up to 7 fold, Child-Pugh score 7-9), and severe (Child-Pugh score 10-15) hepatic impairment. Patients with mild hepatic impairment should not exceed a dose of 0.5 mg/day. AZILECT should not be used in patients with moderate or severe hepatic impairment [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION, WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
Dose adjustment of AZILECT is not required for patients with mild or moderate renal impairment because AZILECT plasma concentrations are not increased in patients with moderate renal impairment. Rasagiline has not been studied in patients with severe renal impairment [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].
In a dose escalation study in patients on chronic levodopa therapy treated with 10 mg of AZILECT there were three reports of cardiovascular side effects (including hypertension and postural hypotension) which resolved following treatment discontinuation.
Although no cases of overdose have been observed with AZILECT during the clinical development program, the following description of presenting symptoms and clinical course is based upon overdose descriptions of nonselective MAO inhibitors.
The signs and symptoms of nonselective MAOI overdose may not appear immediately. Delays of up to 12 hours after ingestion of drug and the appearance of signs may occur. The peak intensity of the syndrome may not be reached until for a day following the overdose. Death has been reported following overdose; therefore, immediate hospitalization, with continuous patient observation and monitoring for at least two days following the ingestion of such drugs in overdose, is strongly recommended.
The severity of the clinical signs and symptoms of MAOI overdose varies and may be related to the amount of drug consumed. The central nervous and cardiovascular systems are prominently involved.
Signs and symptoms of MAOI overdose may include: drowsiness, dizziness, faintness, irritability, hyperactivity, agitation, severe headache, hallucinations, trismus, opisthotonos, convulsions, and coma; rapid and irregular pulse, hypertension, hypotension and vascular collapse; precordial pain, respiratory depression and failure, hyperpyrexia, diaphoresis, and cool, clammy skin.
There is no specific antidote for AZILECT overdose. The following suggestions are offered based upon the assumption that AZILECT overdose may be modeled after nonselective MAO inhibitor poisoning. Treatment of overdose with nonselective MAO inhibitors is symptomatic and supportive. Respiration should be supported by appropriate measures, including management of the airway, use of supplemental oxygen, and mechanical ventilatory assistance, as required. Body temperature should be monitored closely. Intensive management of hyperpyrexia may be required. Maintenance of fluid and electrolyte balance is essential. For this reason, in cases of overdose with AZILECT, dietary tyramine restriction should be observed for several weeks to reduce the risk of hypertensive tyramine reaction.
A poison control center should be called for the most current treatment guidelines.
A postmarketing report described a single patient who developed a nonfatal serotonin syndrome after ingesting 100 mg of AZILECT in a suicide attempt. Another patient who was treated in error with 4 mg AZILECT daily and tramadol also developed a serotonin syndrome. One patient who was treated in error with 3 mg AZILECT daily experienced alternating episodes of vascular fluctuations consisting of hypertension and orthostatic hypotension.
AZILECT is contraindicated for use with meperidine, tramadol, methadone, propoxyphene and MAO inhibitors (MAOIs), including other selective MAO-B inhibitors, because of risk of serotonin syndrome [See WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS]. At least 14 days should elapse between discontinuation of AZILECT and initiation of treatment with these medications.
AZILECT is contraindicated for use with St. John's wort and with cyclobenzaprine.
AZILECT is contraindicated for use with dextromethorphan because of risk of episode of psychosis or bizarre behavior.
AZILECT is a selective, irreversible MAO-B inhibitor indicated for the treatment of idiopathic Parkinson's disease. The results of a clinical trial designed to examine the effects of AZILECT on blood pressure when it is administered with increasing doses of tyramine indicates the functional selectivity can be incomplete when healthy subjects ingest large amounts of tyramine while receiving recommended doses of AZILECT. The selectivity for inhibiting MAO-B diminishes in a dose-related manner.
MAO, a flavin-containing enzyme, is classified into two major molecular species, A and B, and is localized in mitochondrial membranes throughout the body in nerve terminals, brain, liver and intestinal mucosa. MAO regulates the metabolic degradation of catecholamines and serotonin in the CNS and peripheral tissues. MAO-B is the major form in the human brain. In ex vivo animal studies in brain, liver, and intestinal tissues, rasagiline was shown to be a potent, irreversible monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) selective inhibitor. Rasagiline at the recommended therapeutic dose was also shown to be a potent and irreversible inhibitor of MAO-B in platelets. The precise mechanisms of action of rasagiline are unknown. One mechanism is believed to be related to its MAO-B inhibitory activity, which causes an increase in extracellular levels of dopamine in the striatum. The elevated dopamine level and subsequent increased dopaminergic activity are likely to mediate rasagiline's beneficial effects seen in models of dopaminergic motor dysfunction.
Results of a tyramine challenge study indicate that rasagiline at recommended doses is relatively selective for inhibiting MAO-B and can be used without dietary tyramine restriction. However, certain foods (e.g., aged cheeses, such as Stilton cheese) may contain very high amounts of tyramine (i.e., 150 mg or greater) and could potentially cause severe hypertension caused by tyramine interaction in patients taking AZILECT due to mild increased sensitivity to tyramine at recommended doses. Relative selectivity of AZILECT for inhibiting MAO-B diminished in a dose-related manner as the dose progressively increased above the highest recommended daily dose (1 mg) [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS and DRUG INTERACTIONS].
Studies in healthy subjects and in Parkinson's disease patients have shown that rasagiline inhibits platelet MAO-B irreversibly. The inhibition lasts at least 1 week after last dose. Almost 25-35% MAO-B inhibition was achieved after a single rasagiline dose of 1 mg/day and more than 55% of MAO-B inhibition was achieved after a single rasagiline dose of 2 mg/day. Over 90% inhibition was achieved 3 days after rasagiline daily dosing at 2 mg/day and this inhibition level was maintained 3 days postdose. Multiple doses of rasagiline of 0.5, 1 and 2 mg per day resulted in complete MAO-B inhibition.
Rasagiline in the range of 1-6 mg demonstrated a more than proportional increase in AUC, while Cmax was dose proportional. Rasagiline mean steady-state half life is 3 hours but there is no correlation of pharmacokinetics with its pharmacological effect because of its irreversible inhibition of MAO-B.
Rasagiline is rapidly absorbed, reaching peak plasma concentration (Cmax) in approximately 1 hour. The absolute bioavailability of rasagiline is about 36%.
Food does not affect the Tmax of rasagiline, although Cmax and exposure (AUC) are decreased by approximately 60% and 20%, respectively, when the drug is taken with a high fat meal. Because AUC is not significantly affected, AZILECT can be administered with or without food.
The mean volume of distribution at steady-state is 87 L, indicating that the tissue binding of rasagiline is in excess of plasma protein binding. Plasma protein binding ranges from 88-94% with mean extent of binding of 61-63% to human albumin over the concentration range of 1-100 ng/mL.
Rasagiline undergoes almost complete biotransformation in the liver prior to excretion. The metabolism of rasagiline proceeds through two main pathways: N-dealkylation and/or hydroxylation to yield 1-aminoindan (AI), 3-hydroxy-N-propargyl-1 aminoindan (3-OH-PAI) and 3-hydroxy-1-aminoindan (3-OH-AI). In vitro experiments indicate that both routes of rasagiline metabolism are dependent on the cytochrome P450 (CYP) system, with CYP1A2 being the major isoenzyme involved in rasagiline metabolism. Glucuronide conjugation of rasagiline and its metabolites, with subsequent urinary excretion, is the major elimination pathway.
After oral administration of 14C-labeled rasagiline, elimination occurred primarily via urine and secondarily via feces (62% of total dose in urine and 7% of total dose in feces over 7 days), with a total calculated recovery of 84% of the dose over a period of 38 days. Less than 1% of rasagiline was excreted as unchanged drug in urine.
Following repeat dose administration (7 days) of rasagiline (1 mg/day) in subjects with mild hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh score 5-6), AUC and Cmax were increased by 2 fold and 1.4 fold, respectively, compared to healthy subjects. In subjects with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh score 7-9), AUC and Cmax were increased by 7 fold and 2 fold, respectively, compared to healthy subjects [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Following repeat dose administration (8 days) of rasagiline (1 mg/day) in subjects with moderate renal impairment, rasagiline exposure (AUC) was similar to rasagiline exposure in healthy subjects, while the major metabolite 1-AI exposure (AUC) was increased 1.5-fold in subjects with moderate renal impairment, compared to healthy subjects. Because 1-AI is not an MAO inhibitor, no dose adjustment is needed for patients with mild and moderate renal impairment. Data are not available for patients with severe renal impairment.
Since age has little influence on rasagiline pharmacokinetics, it can be administered at the recommended dose in the elderly (≥ 65 years).
AZILECT has not been investigated in patients below 18 years of age.
The pharmacokinetic profile of rasagiline is similar in men and women.
A study in Parkinson's disease patients, in which the effect of levodopa/carbidopa (LD/CD) on rasagiline pharmacokinetics at steady state was investigated, showed that the pharmacokinetics of rasagiline were not affected by concomitant administration of LD/CD.
In vitro metabolism studies showed that CYP1A2 was the major enzyme responsible for the metabolism of rasagiline. There is the potential for inhibitors of this enzyme to alter AZILECT clearance when coadministered [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Ciprofloxacin: When ciprofloxacin, an inhibitor of CYP1A2, was administered to healthy volunteers (n=12) at 500 mg (BID) with rasagiline at 2 mg/day, the AUC of rasagiline increased by 83% and there was no change in the elimination half life [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Theophylline: Coadministration of rasagiline 1 mg/day and theophylline, a substrate of CYP1A2, up to 500 mg twice daily to healthy subjects (n=24) did not affect the pharmacokinetics of either drug.
Antidepressants: Severe CNS toxicity (occasionally fatal) associated with hyperpyrexia as part of a serotonin syndrome, has been reported with combined treatment of an antidepressant (e.g., from one of many classes including tricyclic or tetracyclic antidepressants, SSRIs, SNRIs, triazolopyridine antidepressants) and nonselective MAOI or a selective MAO-B inhibitor [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
No additional in vivo trials have investigated the effect of AZILECT on other drugs metabolized by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system. In vitro studies showed that rasagiline at a concentration of 1 mcg/ml (equivalent to a level that is 160 times the average Cmax ~ 5.9-8.5 ng/mL in Parkinson's disease patients after 1 mg rasagiline multiple dosing) did not inhibit cytochrome P450 isoenzymes, CYP1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2E1, CYP3A4 and CYP4A. These results indicate that rasagiline is unlikely to cause any clinically significant interference with substrates of these enzymes.
The effectiveness of AZILECT 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.
Study 1 was a double-blind, randomized, fixed-dose parallel group, 26-week study in early Parkinson's disease patients not receiving any concomitant dopaminergic therapy at the start of the study. The majority of the patients were not treated with medications for Parkinson's disease before receiving AZILECT.
In Study 1, 404 patients were randomly assigned to receive placebo (138 patients), AZILECT 1 mg/day (134 patients) or AZILECT 2 mg/day (132 patients). Patients were not allowed to take levodopa, dopamine agonists, selegiline or amantadine, but could take stable doses of anticholinergic medication, if necessary. The average Parkinson's disease duration was approximately 1 year (range 0 to 11 years).
The primary measure of effectiveness was the change from baseline in the total score of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), [mentation (Part I) + activities of daily living (ADL) (Part II) + motor function (Part III)]. The UPDRS is a multi-item rating scale that measures the ability of a patient to perform mental and motor tasks as well as activities of daily living. A reduction in the score represents improvement and a beneficial change from baseline appears as a negative number.
AZILECT (1 or 2 mg once daily) was superior to placebo on the primary measure of effectiveness in patients receiving six months of treatment and not on dopaminergic therapy. The effectiveness of AZILECT 1 mg and 2 mg was comparable. Table 4 shows the results of Study 1. There were no differences in effectiveness based on age or gender between AZILECT 1 mg/day and placebo.
Table 4: Change in Total UPDRS Score in Study 1
| Baseline score | Change from baseline to termination score | p-value vs. placebo | |
| Placebo | 24.5 | 3.9 | — |
| AZILECT 1 mg | 24.7 | 0.1 | 0.0001 |
| AZILECT 2 mg | 25.9 | 0.7 | 0.0001 |
Study 2 was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel group, 18-week study, investigating AZILECT 1 mg as adjunct therapy to dopamine agonists without levodopa. Patients were on a stable dose of dopamine agonist (ropinirole, mean 8 mg/day or pramipexole, mean 1.5 mg/day) therapy for ≥ 30 days, but at doses not sufficient to control Parkinson's disease symptoms.
In Study 2, 321 patients randomly received placebo (162 patients) or AZILECT 1 mg/day (159 patients) and had a post-baseline assessment. The average Parkinson's disease duration was approximately 2 years (range 0.1 to 14.5 years).
The primary measure of effectiveness was the change from baseline in the total score of the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) [mentation (Part I) + activities of daily living (ADL) (Part II) + motor function (Part III)].
In Study 2, AZILECT 1 mg was superior to placebo on the primary measure of effectiveness (see Table 5).
Table 5: Change in Total UPDRS Score in Study 2
| Baseline score | Change from baseline to termination score* | p-value vs. placebo | |
| Placebo | 29.8 | -1.2 | — |
| AZILECT1 mg | 32.1 | -3.6 | 0.012 |
| *A negative change from baseline indicates improvement in the UPDRS | |||
Secondary outcome assessment of the individual subscales of the UPDRS indicates that the UPDRS Part III motor subscale was primarily responsible for the overall AZILECT effect on the UPDRS score (see Table 6).
Table 6: Secondary Measures
of Effectiveness in Study 2
| Baseline (score) | Change from baseline to termination score | |
| UPDRS Part IIADL (Activities of Daily Living) subscale score | ||
| Placebo | 7.9 | 0.4 |
| AZILECT 1 mg | 8.6 | -0.3 |
| UPDRS Part III Motor subscale score | ||
| Placebo | 20.4 | -1.2 |
| AZILECT 1 mg | 22.2 | -3.7 |
Study 3 and Study 4 were randomized, multinational trials conducted in more advanced Parkinson's disease patients treated chronically with levodopa and experiencing motor fluctuations (including but not limited to, end of dose “wearing off,” sudden or random “off,” etc.). Study 3 was conducted in North America (U.S. and Canada) and compared AZILECT 0.5 mg and 1 mg daily to placebo. Study 4 was conducted outside of North America in Europe, Argentina and Israel, and compared AZILECT 1 mg daily to placebo.
Patients had Parkinson's disease for an average of 9 years (range 5 months to 33 years), had taken levodopa for an average of 8 years (range 5 months to 32 years), and had motor fluctuations for approximately 3 to 4 years (range 1 month to 23 years). Patients kept home Parkinson's disease diaries just prior to baseline and at specified intervals during the trial. Diaries recorded one of the following four conditions for each half-hour interval over a 24-hour period: “ON” (period of relatively good function and mobility) as either “ON” with no dyskinesia or without troublesome dyskinesia, or “ON” with troublesome dyskinesia, “OFF” (period of relatively poor function and mobility) or asleep. “Troublesome” dyskinesia is defined as dyskinesia that interferes with the patient's daily activity. All patients had inadequate control of their motor symptoms with motor fluctuations typical of advanced stage disease despite receiving levodopa/decarboxylase inhibitor. The average dose of levodopa taken with a decarboxylase inhibitor was approximately 700 to 800 mg (range 150 to 3000 mg/day). Patients continued their stable doses of additional anti-PD medications at entry into the trials. Approximately 65% of patients in both studies were also taking a dopamine agonist. In the North American study (Study 3), approximately 35% of patients took entacapone with levodopa/decarboxylase inhibitor. The majority of patients taking entacapone were also taking a dopamine agonist.
In Study 3 and Study 4, the primary measure of effectiveness was the change in the mean number of hours spent in the “OFF” state at baseline compared to the mean number of hours spent in the “OFF” state during the treatment period.
In Study 3, patients were randomly assigned to receive placebo (159 patients), AZILECT 0.5 mg/day (164 patients), or AZILECT 1 mg/day (149 patients) for 26 weeks. Patients averaged 6 hours daily in the “OFF” state at baseline as confirmed by home diaries.
In Study 4, patients were randomly assigned to receive placebo (229 patients), AZILECT 1 mg/day (231 patients) or a COMT inhibitor (active comparator), taken along with scheduled doses of levodopa/decarboxylase inhibitor (227 patients) for 18 weeks. Patients averaged 5.6 hours daily in the “OFF” state at baseline as confirmed by home diaries.
In Study 3 and Study 4, AZILECT 1 mg once daily reduced “OFF” time compared to placebo when added to levodopa in patients experiencing motor fluctuations (Tables 7 and 8). The lower dose (0.5 mg) of AZILECT also significantly reduced “OFF” time (Table 7), but had a numerically smaller effect than the 1 mg dose of AZILECT. In Study 4, the active comparator also reduced “OFF” time when compared to placebo.
Table 7: Change in mean total daily “OFF” time in
Study 3
| Baseline (hours) | Change from baseline to treatment period (hours) | p-value vs. placebo | |
| Placebo | 6.0 | -0.9 | — |
| AZILECT 0.5 mg | 6.0 | -1.4 | 0.0199 |
| AZILECT 1.0 mg | 6.3 | -1.9 | < 0.0001 |
Table 8: Change in mean
total daily “OFF” time in Study 4
| Baseline (hours) | Change from baseline to treatment period (hours) | p-value vs. placebo | |
| Placebo | 5.5 | -0.40 | — |
| AZILECT 1.0 mg | 5.6 | -1.2 | 0.0001 |
In Study 3 and Study 4, dose reduction of levodopa was allowed within the first 6 weeks, if dopaminergic side effects developed including dyskinesia or hallucinations. In Study 3, the levodopa dose was reduced in 8% of patients in the placebo group and in 16% and 17% of patients in the 0.5 mg/day and 1 mg/day AZILECT groups, respectively. When levodopa was reduced, the dose was reduced by 7%, 9%, and 13% in the placebo, 0.5 mg/day, and 1 mg/day groups, respectively. In Study 4, levodopa dose reduction occurred in 6% of patients in the placebo group and in 9% in the AZILECT 1 mg/day groups, respectively. When levodopa was reduced, it was reduced by 13% and 11% in the placebo and the AZILECT groups, respectively.
There were no differences in effectiveness based on age or gender between AZILECT 1 mg/day and placebo.
Several secondary outcome assessments in the two studies showed statistically significant improvements with rasagiline. These included effects on the activities of daily living (ADL) subscale of the UPDRS performed during an “OFF” period and the motor subscale of the UPDRS performed during an “ON” period. In both scales, a negative response represents improvement. Tables 9 and 10 show these results for Studies 3 and 4.
Table 9: Secondary Measures of Effectiveness in Study 3
| Baseline (score) | Change from baseline to last value | |
| UPDRS ADL (Activities of Daily Living) subscale score while “OFF” | ||
| Placebo | 15.5 | 0.68 |
| AZILECT 0.5 mg | 15.8 | -0.60 |
| AZILECT 1 mg | 15.5 | -0.68 |
| UPDRS Motor subscale score while “ON” | ||
| Placebo | 20.8 | 1.21 |
| AZILECT 0.5 mg | 21.5 | -1.43 |
| AZILECT 1 mg | 20.9 | -1.30 |
Table 10: Secondary Measures of Effectiveness in Study 4
| Baseline (score) | Change from baseline to last value | |
| UPDRS ADL (Activities of Daily Living) subscale score while “OFF” | ||
| Placebo | 18.7 | -0.89 |
| AZILECT 1 mg | 19.0 | -2.61 |
| UPDRS Motor subscale score while “ON” | ||
| Placebo | 23.5 | -0.82 |
| AZILECT 1 mg | 23.8 | -3.87 |
Advise patients that treatment with recommended doses of AZILECT may be associated with elevations of blood pressure. Tell patients who experience elevation of blood pressure while taking AZILECT to contact their healthcare provider.
The risk of using higher than recommended daily doses of AZILECT should be explained, and a brief description of the tyramine associated hypertensive reaction provided.
Advise patients to avoid certain foods (e.g., aged cheese) containing a very large amount of tyramine while taking recommended doses of AZILECT because of the potential for large increases in blood pressure. If patients eat foods very rich in tyramine and do not feel well soon after eating, they should contact their healthcare provider [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Tell patients to inform their physician if they are taking, or planning to take, any prescription or over-the-counter drugs, especially antidepressants and over-the-counter cold medications, since there is a potential for interaction with AZILECT. Because patients should not use meperidine or certain other analgesics with AZILECT, they should contact their healthcare provider before taking analgesics [see CONTRAINDICATIONS and WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Advise and alert patients about the potential for sedating effects associated with AZILECT and other dopaminergic medications, including somnolence and particularly to the possibility of falling asleep while engaged in activities of daily living. Because somnolence can be a frequent adverse reaction with potentially serious consequences, patients should neither drive a car nor engage in other potentially dangerous activities until they have gained sufficient experience with AZILECT and other dopaminergic medications to gauge whether or not it affects their mental and/or motor performance adversely. Advise patients that if increased somnolence or new episodes of falling asleep during activities of daily living (e.g., watching television, passenger in a car, etc.) are experienced at any time during treatment, they should not drive or participate in potentially dangerous activities until they have contacted their physician. Patients should not drive, operate machinery, or work at heights during treatment if they have previously experienced somnolence and/or have fallen asleep without warning prior to use of AZILECT.
Because of possible additive effects, advise patients to exercise caution when patients are taking other sedating medications, alcohol, or other central nervous system depressants (e.g., benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, antidepressants) in combination with AZILECT or when taking concomitant medications that increase plasma levels of rasagiline (e.g., ciprofloxacin) [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Inform patients that they should contact their healthcare provider of AZILECT if they take ciprofloxacin or a similar drug that could increase blood levels of rasagiline because of the need to adjust the dose of AZILECT [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION and WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Tell patients who have hepatic problems to contact their healthcare provider regarding possible changes in AZILECT dosing [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Patients should be advised that they may develop orthostatic hypotension with or without symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, syncope, and sometimes sweating. Hypotension and/or orthostatic symptoms may occur more frequently during initial therapy or with an increase in dose at any time (cases have been seen after weeks of treatment). Accordingly, patients should be cautioned against standing up rapidly after sitting or lying down, especially if they have been doing so for prolonged periods, and especially, at the initiation of treatment with AZILECT [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Advise patients taking AZILECT as adjunct to levodopa that there is a possibility of dyskinesia or increased dyskinesia [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Inform patients that hallucinations or other manifestations of psychotic-like behavior can occur when taking AZILECT. Advise patients that, if they have a major psychotic disorder, that AZILECT should not ordinarily be used because of the risk of exacerbating the psychosis. Patients with a major psychotic disorder should also be aware that many treatments for psychosis may decrease the effectiveness of AZILECT [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Advise patients that they may experience intense urges to gamble, increased sexual urges, other intense urges, and the inability to control these urges while taking one or more of the medications that increase central dopaminergic tone and that are generally used for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (including AZILECT). Although it is not proven that the medications caused these events, these urges were reported to have stopped in some cases when the dose was reduced or the medication was stopped. Prescribers should ask patients about the development of new or increased gambling urges, sexual urges, or other urges while being treated with AZILECT. Patients should inform their physician if they experience new or increased gambling urges, increased sexual urges, or other intense urges while taking AZILECT. Physicians should consider dose reduction or stopping the medication if a patient develops such urges while taking AZILECT [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Tell patients to contact their healthcare provider if they wish to discontinue AZILECT [see WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS].
Instruct patients to take AZILECT as prescribed. If a dose is missed, the patient should not double-up the dose of AZILECT. The next dose should be taken at the usual time on the following day.
