What is the most important information I should know about Eldepryl?
- Do not use Eldepryl if you are also taking meperidine (Demerol).
- Before using this medicine, tell your doctor if you have heart disease, seizures, or dizzy spells.
- Taking larger doses of this medication will not have any greater effect, but serious side effects could result.
- Parkinson's disease is often treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. When you start taking Eldepryl, your doses of the other medications may need to change. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor.
- Do not stop using Eldepryl suddenly or you may have harmful side effects. Keep taking the medicine as prescribed. Talk with your doctor before stopping the medication.
- There may be other drugs that can affect Eldepryl. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
- Eldepryl can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
What is Eldepryl?
- Eldepryl prevents the breakdown of a chemical in your brain called dopamine (DO pa meen). Low levels of this chemical are associated with Parkinson's disease.
- Eldepryl is used together with other medicines to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease, such as stiffness, tremors, muscle spasms, and poor muscle control. Eldepryl oral is also used to treat similar muscle symptoms when they are caused by certain medicines, including chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin), perphenazine (Trilafon), and others.
- Eldepryl may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before using Eldepryl?
- Do not use Eldepryl if you are also taking meperidine (Demerol).
- Before using this medicine, tell your doctor if you have heart disease, seizures, or dizzy spells.
- If you need to have surgery, tell the surgeon that you are using Eldepryl. You may need to briefly stop using the medicine before your surgery.
- FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
- It is not known whether Eldepryl passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not take Eldepryl without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take Eldepryl?
- Use Eldepryl exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not use the medication in larger amounts or for longer than recommended by your doctor. Larger doses will not have any greater effect, but serious side effects could result.
- Take this medication with a full glass of water.
- Eldepryl is usually taken twice a day, at breakfast and lunch. Follow your doctor's directions.
- To take Eldepryl orally disintegrating tablets (Zelapar):
- Keep the tablet in its blister pack until you are ready to take the medicine. Open the package and peel back the foil from the tablet blister. Do not push a tablet through the foil or you may damage the tablet.
- Using dry hands, remove the tablet and place it in your mouth. It will begin to dissolve right away.
- Do not swallow the tablet whole. Allow it to dissolve in your mouth without chewing.
- Swallow several times as the tablet dissolves. If desired, you may drink liquid to help swallow the dissolved tablet.
- Parkinson's disease is often treated with a combination of different drugs. To best treat your condition, use all of your medications as directed by your doctor. When you start taking Eldepryl, your doses of the other medications may need to change. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without advice from your doctor.
- Do not stop using Eldepryl suddenly or you may have harmful side effects. Keep taking the medicine as prescribed. Talk with your doctor before stopping the medication.
- Store this medicine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
- Take the medication as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and wait until your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
- Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
- Symptoms of a Eldepryl overdose may include excitement, irritability, nervousness, insomnia, dizziness, severe headache, hallucinations, sweating, light-headedness, fainting, or seizures.
What should I avoid while using Eldepryl?
- Avoid drinking alcohol while using Eldepryl.
- Eldepryl can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
What are the possible side effects of Eldepryl?
- Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
- Stop using Eldepryl and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
- severe headache, stiff neck, confusion, fast or uneven heartbeat;
- feeling light-headed, fainting;
- fever or sweating;
- feeling restless, agitated, or irritable;
- seizure (convulsions); or
- tremors, muscle stiffness, or movements you cannot control.
- Other less serious side effects are more likely to occur. Continue using Eldepryl and talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:
- dizziness or drowsiness;
- nausea, abdominal pain, or diarrhea;
- insomnia or vivid dreams;
- a mild headache; or
- dry mouth.
- Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What other drugs will affect Eldepryl?
- Do not use Eldepryl if you are also taking meperidine (Demerol).
- Before using Eldepryl, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:
- antidepressants such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), paroxetine (Paxil), or sertraline (Zoloft);
- antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), desipramine (Norpramin), or imipramine (Tofranil);
- St. John's wort;
- cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril);
- carbamazepine (Tegretol) or oxcarbazepine (Trileptal);
- buspirone (Buspar);
- cold or cough medicine; or
- diet pills or stimulants.
- If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to take Eldepryl, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
- There may be other drugs not listed that can affect Eldepryl. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
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