Drug Interaction Report

Using phenylephrine ophthalmic together with rasagiline may increase cardiovascular side effects such as blood pressure elevations and increased heart rate. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns, especially if you have a history of high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythm, or heart disease. 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.

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.

The use of nonspecific ophthalmic sympathomimetic agents is contraindicated in patients with narrow-angle glaucoma or anatomically narrow angles. These agents stimulate both alpha-1 and alpha-2 adrenergic receptors, thus topical administration can induce transient mydriasis. In patients with narrow angles, pupillary dilation can provoke an acute attack of angle-closure glaucoma. If possible, these agents (except for phenylephrine 2.5% or 10%) should also be avoided in patients with other forms of glaucoma, since mydriasis may occasionally increase intraocular pressure.

Rasagiline should not be used in patients with moderate to severe hepatic impairment. Patients with mild hepatic impairment should not exceed a dose of 0.5 mg daily.

Topically applied sympathomimetic agents are systemically absorbed, with the potential for producing clinically significant systemic effects, particularly during prolonged or indiscriminate use. In patients with prostate enlargement, urinary difficulty may develop or worsen due to smooth muscle contraction in the bladder neck via stimulation of alpha-1 adrenergic receptors. Therapy with topical sympathomimetic agents should be administered cautiously in patients with hypertrophy or neoplasm of the prostate. It is important that the recommended dosages of the individual products not be exceeded.

Topically applied sympathomimetic agents are systemically absorbed, with the potential for producing clinically significant systemic effects, particularly during prolonged or indiscriminate use. In cardiac tissues, these agents may produce positive chronotropic and inotropic effects via stimulation of beta-1 adrenergic receptors. Cardiac output, oxygen consumption, and the work of the heart may be increased. In the peripheral vasculature, vasoconstriction may occur via stimulation of alpha-1 adrenergic receptors. Palpitations, tachycardia, arrhythmia, hypertension, reflex bradycardia, and coronary occlusion have been reported rarely during the use of ophthalmic and nasal sympathomimetic agents, but may be more likely if the corneal epithelium is damaged or if an excessive amount of drug is swallowed during nasal administration. Therapy with topical sympathomimetic agents should be administered cautiously in patients with corneal abrasion, sensitivity to sympathomimetic amines, hyperthyroidism, or underlying cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disorders, especially coronary insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmia, or hypertension. The potent ophthalmic formulations (e.g., phenylephrine 2.5% or 10%) that are used for diagnostic and pre-surgical purposes should not be used in such patients. For other preparations, it is important that the recommended dosages of the individual products not be exceeded.

Topically applied sympathomimetic agents are systemically absorbed, with the potential for producing clinically significant systemic effects, particularly during prolonged or indiscriminate use. In cardiac tissues, these agents may produce positive chronotropic and inotropic effects via stimulation of beta-1 adrenergic receptors. Cardiac output, oxygen consumption, and the work of the heart may be increased. In the peripheral vasculature, vasoconstriction may occur via stimulation of alpha-1 adrenergic receptors. Palpitations, tachycardia, arrhythmia, hypertension, reflex bradycardia, and coronary occlusion have been reported rarely during the use of ophthalmic and nasal sympathomimetic agents, but may be more likely if the corneal epithelium is damaged or if an excessive amount of drug is swallowed during nasal administration. Therapy with topical sympathomimetic agents should be administered cautiously in patients with corneal abrasion, sensitivity to sympathomimetic amines, hyperthyroidism, or underlying cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disorders, especially coronary insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmia, or hypertension. The potent ophthalmic formulations (e.g., phenylephrine 2.5% or 10%) that are used for diagnostic and pre-surgical purposes should not be used in such patients. For other preparations, it is important that the recommended dosages of the individual products not be exceeded.

Topically applied sympathomimetic agents are systemically absorbed, with the potential for producing clinically significant systemic effects, particularly during prolonged or indiscriminate use. In cardiac tissues, these agents may produce positive chronotropic and inotropic effects via stimulation of beta-1 adrenergic receptors. Cardiac output, oxygen consumption, and the work of the heart may be increased. In the peripheral vasculature, vasoconstriction may occur via stimulation of alpha-1 adrenergic receptors. Palpitations, tachycardia, arrhythmia, hypertension, reflex bradycardia, and coronary occlusion have been reported rarely during the use of ophthalmic and nasal sympathomimetic agents, but may be more likely if the corneal epithelium is damaged or if an excessive amount of drug is swallowed during nasal administration. Therapy with topical sympathomimetic agents should be administered cautiously in patients with corneal abrasion, sensitivity to sympathomimetic amines, hyperthyroidism, or underlying cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disorders, especially coronary insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmia, or hypertension. The potent ophthalmic formulations (e.g., phenylephrine 2.5% or 10%) that are used for diagnostic and pre-surgical purposes should not be used in such patients. For other preparations, it is important that the recommended dosages of the individual products not be exceeded.

Topically applied sympathomimetic agents are systemically absorbed, particularly during prolonged or indiscriminate use. Slight increases in blood glucose concentrations may occur with the use of these drugs. Therapy with topical sympathomimetic agents should be administered cautiously in patients with diabetes mellitus. Closer monitoring of blood glucose concentrations may be appropriate. It is important that the recommended dosages of the individual products not be exceeded.

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.

Topically applied sympathomimetic agents are systemically absorbed, with the potential for producing clinically significant systemic effects, particularly during prolonged or indiscriminate use. In cardiac tissues, these agents may produce positive chronotropic and inotropic effects via stimulation of beta-1 adrenergic receptors. Cardiac output, oxygen consumption, and the work of the heart may be increased. In the peripheral vasculature, vasoconstriction may occur via stimulation of alpha-1 adrenergic receptors. Palpitations, tachycardia, arrhythmia, hypertension, reflex bradycardia, and coronary occlusion have been reported rarely during the use of ophthalmic and nasal sympathomimetic agents, but may be more likely if the corneal epithelium is damaged or if an excessive amount of drug is swallowed during nasal administration. Therapy with topical sympathomimetic agents should be administered cautiously in patients with corneal abrasion, sensitivity to sympathomimetic amines, hyperthyroidism, or underlying cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disorders, especially coronary insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmia, or hypertension. The potent ophthalmic formulations (e.g., phenylephrine 2.5% or 10%) that are used for diagnostic and pre-surgical purposes should not be used in such patients. For other preparations, it is important that the recommended dosages of the individual products not be exceeded.

Dopamine agonists may impair the systemic regulation of blood pressure, with resultant orthostatic hypotension at any time, but especially during dose escalation. Additionally, patients with Parkinson's disease may have an impaired capacity to respond to an orthostatic challenge. For these reasons, patients with Parkinson's disease (or restless legs syndrome) who are being treated with dopaminergic agonists typically require careful monitoring for signs/symptoms of orthostatic hypotension, especially during dose escalation, and should be advised of this risk.

Topically applied sympathomimetic agents are systemically absorbed, with the potential for producing clinically significant systemic effects, particularly during prolonged or indiscriminate use. In patients with prostate enlargement, urinary difficulty may develop or worsen due to smooth muscle contraction in the bladder neck via stimulation of alpha-1 adrenergic receptors. Therapy with topical sympathomimetic agents should be administered cautiously in patients with hypertrophy or neoplasm of the prostate. It is important that the recommended dosages of the individual products not be exceeded.

Ordinarily, patients with major psychotic disorder should not be treated with dopaminergic antiparkinsonian agents, because of the risk of exacerbating psychosis. Hallucinations and psychotic-like behavior have been reported with dopaminergic medications. In addition, certain medications used to treat psychosis may exacerbate the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and may decrease the effectiveness of these drugs. The use of bromocriptine in patients with severe psychotic disorders is not recommended.

Dose adjustment of rasagiline is not required for patients with mild or moderate renal impairment. However, rasagiline has not been studied in patients with severe renal impairment. Caution is advised if used.