Selegiline (l-deprenyl, Eldepryl® or Anipryl® *) is a drug used for the treatment of early-stage Parkinson's disease and senile dementia. In normal clinical doses it is a selective MAO-B inhibitor, however in very large doses (>25 mg in a typical adult) it loses its specificity and also inhibits MAO-A. Since it is selective for MAO-B, no special dietary restrictions are needed as with other MAOI drugs. The drug was researched by Joseph Knoll.
Uses
It is sometimes used
off-label to treat
narcolepsy and as a
nootropic, as well as for its purported life-extending effects. It is also reported to positively affect
libido, particularly in older
males. As of February 28, 2006, Selegiline has also been approved by the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat
major depression using a transdermal patch (
Emsam Patch). Selegiline is also used (at extremely high dosages relative to humans) in
veterinary medicine to treat the symptoms of
Cushing's disease and so-called "cognitive dysfunction" in
dogs. As of June 26, 2006, a Selegiline transdermal patch is being tested for its effectiveness in treating
ADHD (Source:Pharma.org).
Mechanism of Action
Selegiline raises
dopamine and
phenylethylamine levels in the
CNS without directly affecting
serotonin or
norepinephrine. It does so because of its mentioned selectivity versus
MAO-B. Selegiline can indirectly raise norepinephrine because dopamine can be
catabolized within the brain to norepinephrine, although the extent of this is variable. Selegiline is partly
metabolized to an inactive
stereoisomer of
methamphetamine in vivo in levels that, even if active, most likely are far too low to have any significant effect. However, due to this selegiline can cause
false positives for
amphetamine/methamphetamine on drug tests.
More on
[ Selegiline ]
Selegiline [l-deprenyl] - Describes this medication as a mood-brightener.
Selegine HCl Oral - Patient handout, with links to more technical information on pharmacology, drug interactions, and other topics. [Requires free registration.]