Patient Information Leaflet

Eldepryl Tablets 5mg

Eldepryl Tablets 10mg

Eldepryl Syrup

(Selegiline hydrochloride)

What's in Your Medicine ?

Eldepryl Tablets are white in colour and contain either 5mg or 10mg of the active ingredient Selegiline hydrochloride. Each 5ml of syrup contains 10mg Selegiline hydrochloride.

The tablets also contain the inactive ingredients; mannitol, maize starch, microcrystalline cellulose, povidone and magnesium stearate.

The syrup also contains Methyl, Butyl and Propyl Parahydroxybenzoates, Sucrose, Xanthan Gum T, Saccharin Sodium, Mango Flavour and Purified Water.

Eldepryl 5mg Tablets are available in blister-packs of 60;

Eldepryl 10mg Tablets are available in blister-packs of 30; and Eldepryl Syrup is available in bottles of 200 ml, on prescription from your doctor.

Eldepryl is a monoamine oxidase-B inhibitor, and is used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease

What does Eldepryl do ?

Eldepryl is used to treat Parkinson's disease.

Eldepryl may be taken alone in the early stages of your condition, delaying the need for the addition of other medicines. Eldepryl however can also be used in conjunction with other treatments to reduce the on-off symptoms or uncontrolled movements you may experience. This happens especially when the effects of the other treatments are wearing-off.

Your doctor will explain why this medicine has been chosen for you

Advice when using Eldepryl for the first time

Helpful Advice while you are taking Eldepryl

• Eldepryl is for use only in adults.
• If you are already taking other medicines for your Parkinson's disease, your doctor may want you to reduce the dose of these when you start taking Eldepryl.
• If you are also taking an antidepressant, your doctor may recommend that you avoid certain foods, such as mature cheese, broad beans, Bovril, yeast extracts or fermented soya bean products. Contact your doctor for advice.

Taking Other Medicines with Eldepryl

If you are taking any of the following medicines it is important that you make sure that your doctor is aware of the situation.

• Dopamine should be used with caution in patients receiving selegiline
• Medicines known as non-specific monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI's): MAOI's include phenelzine (Nardil®) or tranylcypromine (Parstelin®, Parnate®), isocarboxazid or Tramadol (Zydol®).
• Any antidepressant: Particularly tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, protriptyline, clomipramine, dothiepin, or lofepramine, or those containing fluoxetine (Prozac®), moclobemide (Manerix ®), fluvoxamine (Faverin ®) sertraline (Lustral®), paroxetine (Seroxat®) or venlafaxine (Efexor ®).
• A strong pain-killer called pethidine.
• Oral contraceptives (The ‘pill’).
• Another drug used for Parkinson’s Disease called Levodopa.

How To Take Eldepryl

Your doctor has carefully chosen the correct dosage for you so do not take more than the prescribed dose;

Make sure you ask your pharmacist if the label on your medicine does not tell you how to take Eldepryl.

Your doctor will normally start you on a dose of 10mg Eldepryl each day.

This may be taken either as one 10mg or two 5mg tablets, or one 5ml spoonful of syrup.

• Eldepryl can be taken as a single daily dose in the morning, or the prescribed daily dose taken in two parts, half-dose in the morning and half-dose at lunchtime. If you take your tablets in the evening or before going to bed they may keep you awake at night.
• Eldepryl syrup should be shaken well before use. Always replace the cap after use.
• Your doctor will tell you how long you should continue to take this medicine.
• If you forget to take a dose, take a dose as soon as you remember, but do not take more than the recommended dose every 24 hours.
• If you feel unwell after taking Eldepryl, tell your doctor immediately.
• If you accidentally take too much Eldepryl immediately contact your doctor or contact your nearest hospital casualty department.
• If someone else has swallowed any of your medicine, contact your nearest hospital casualty department or tell a doctor immediately.

While you are using Eldepryl

Like many medicines, Eldepryl may occasionally cause some unwanted effects. As with other medicines for Parkinson's disease, these effects might include;

• Dry mouth.
• Sleep Disturbances.
• Difficulty passing urine.
• Skin reactions or irritation.

If the effects persist, or are causing you a lot of discomfort talk with your doctor.

When Eldepryl is taken with levodopa this may increase the side-effects of levodopa such as,

• Confusion, hallucinations, insomnia, agitation.
• A feeling of sickness.
• Headache
• Palpitations
• Low Blood pressure leading to a feeling of light-headedness, particularly when standing up.
• Excessive, uncontrollable movements after taking your medicine.

These effects will usually stop when the amount of levodopa you are taking is reduced. Talk to your doctor about reducing the dose if you experience any of these effects.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist of any other side effects not mentioned in this leaflet.

Storing Your Medicine

Do not use the medicine after the expiry date.

Please check that the "expiry date" is shown on the pack at the time of receipt.

Do not use if out of date.

• Keep your medicine in a safe place where children cannot see or reach it. Your medicine could harm children.
• Syrup: There are no special storage precautions.
• Tablets: Store your tablets at a temperature below 25oC, in a dry safe place. Tablets provided in plastic bottles should be kept in the container with the lid tightly closed, and tablets provided in blister packs should be stored in the original carton, in order to protect them from moisture.
• If your doctor decides to stop treatment, return any left-over medicine to your pharmacist. Only keep it if your doctor tells you to.

Please keep this leaflet safe while you are taking this medicine as you may need to read it again.