Azilect and Alcohol/Food Interactions

Caffeine may increase the blood levels of rasagiline in some patients. This may increase side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, blood pressure changes, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, and compulsive behaviors. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may be able to prescribe alternatives that do not interact, or you may need a dose adjustment or more frequent monitoring to safely use both medications. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Using rasagiline together with ethanol (alcohol) may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. Some people may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with rasagiline. Do not use more than the recommended dose of rasagiline, and avoid driving, operating machinery, or engaging in potentially hazardous activities requiring mental alertness and motor coordination until you know how the medication affects you. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Consumer information for this interaction is not currently available.

MONITOR: Smoking cessation may lead to elevated plasma concentrations and enhanced pharmacologic effects of drugs that are substrates of CYP450 1A2 (and possibly CYP450 1A1) and/or certain drugs with a narrow therapeutic index (e.g., flecainide, pentazocine). One proposed mechanism is related to the loss of CYP450 1A2 and 1A1 induction by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in tobacco smoke; when smoking cessation agents are initiated and smoking stops, the metabolism of certain drugs may decrease leading to increased plasma concentrations. The mechanism by which smoking cessation affects narrow therapeutic index drugs that are not known substrates of CYP450 1A2 or 1A1 is unknown. The clinical significance of this interaction is unknown as clinical data are lacking.

MANAGEMENT: Until more information is available, caution is advisable if smoking cessation agents are used concomitantly with drugs that are substrates of CYP450 1A2 or 1A1 and/or those with a narrow therapeutic range. Patients receiving smoking cessation agents may require periodic dose adjustments and closer clinical and laboratory monitoring of medications that are substrates of CYP450 1A2 or 1A1.

Rasagiline may be taken with or without food. There is no need to avoid most foods and beverages during treatment with rasagiline, as long as you are not receiving more than 1 mg per day of the medication. However, certain foods such as some of the aged cheeses (for example, Boursault, Liederkrantz, Mycella, and Stilton) may contain very high amounts of tyramine and should generally be avoided if possible. Consumption of very high levels of tyramine (greater than 150 mg) while on rasagiline treatment may lead to dangerous increases in your blood pressure, a condition known as hypertensive crisis. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are uncertain about what foods, if any, to avoid. You should seek immediate medical attention if you experience sudden and severe headache, blurred vision, confusion, seizures, chest pain, nausea or vomiting, sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the body), speech difficulties, fever, sweating, lightheadedness, and/or fainting during treatment with rasagiline, as these may be signs and symptoms of a hypertensive crisis. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs, since some medications may increase the blood levels of rasagiline and possibly lead to interactions with tyramine-rich foods. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

rasagiline - hypertension

Exacerbation of hypertension may occur during treatment with rasagiline. Dosage adjustment may be necessary if the elevation is sustained. Patients should be monitored for new onset hypertension or hypertension that is not well controlled after starting treatment.