rasagiline vs safinamide
Side-by-side comparison of rasagiline and safinamide Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
Azilect
Xadago
Rasagiline (Azilect) is a medicine used to treat Parkinson's disease. It helps to improve motor control and reduce symptoms like tremors and stiffness.
Safinamide (Xadago) is a drug used with levodopa/carbidopa to treat Parkinson's disease. It helps reduce "off" episodes, where symptoms like stiffness and slowness return.
Rasagiline is used to treat Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that affects movement. This medicine can be used alone or with other Parkinson's medicines to help control your symptoms.
Safinamide is used to treat Parkinson's disease. It is for people who take levodopa/carbidopa but still have "off" times. During these times, Parkinson's symptoms like stiffness and slow movement come back.
Rasagiline belongs to a class of drugs called MAO-B inhibitors. It works by increasing the levels of certain chemicals in the brain. These chemicals help to control movement and reduce Parkinson's symptoms.
Safinamide is a MAO-B inhibitor. It works by blocking an enzyme in the brain that breaks down dopamine. This helps increase the amount of dopamine available, which can improve motor control.
- • Flu-like symptoms
- • Joint pain
- • Depression
- • Indigestion
- • Swelling in the arms or legs
- • Uncontrolled movements (dyskinesia)
- • Falls
- • Feeling sick to your stomach (nausea)
- • Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- Falling 343
- Seeing or hearing things that are not there 326
- Uncontrolled movements 276
- Medicine not working 272
- Parkinson's disease 216
- Fall 154
- Seeing or hearing things that are not there 142
- Uncontrolled movements 137
- Trouble walking 93
- Death 90
Rasagiline can cause high blood pressure. It can also cause serotonin syndrome, a serious condition, especially when taken with antidepressants. You may fall asleep suddenly or feel very drowsy. Rasagiline can also cause or worsen uncontrolled movements, hallucinations, and compulsive behaviors. Tell your doctor if you experience any of these side effects.
Safinamide can cause or worsen high blood pressure. It can also cause serotonin syndrome, a dangerous condition, if taken with certain other medicines. Some people taking safinamide have fallen asleep suddenly during normal activities. Safinamide may also cause or worsen uncontrolled movements, hallucinations, and compulsive behaviors. Stopping safinamide suddenly can cause serious withdrawal symptoms.
It is not known if rasagiline can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if rasagiline passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Safinamide may harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if safinamide passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
How to Read This rasagiline vs safinamide Comparison
rasagiline is classified in the MAO-B Inhibitor drug class, while safinamide sits within the MAO-B Inhibitor class. Because both drugs share the same classification, they are often considered interchangeable in theory — but clinical outcomes rarely track that cleanly. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.
Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, rasagiline has 1,433 submissions while safinamide has 616. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume — not per-patient risk — so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. No direct interaction between these two drugs is listed in our FDA-derived dataset, though co-prescription still warrants pharmacist review. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between rasagiline and safinamide — always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.