selegiline Side Effects
Also known as: Emsam
Analysis of 2,896 adverse event reports submitted to the FDA from 2003 to 2025.
Total Reports
2,896
Death-Related
164
5.7% of reports
Hospitalizations
570
19.7% of reports
Top Indication
Depression
Most Reported Adverse Reactions
Who Reports Side Effects
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Reporting Trend by Year
Reactions in Death Reports
Top reactions reported in 164 reports where death was an outcome. These are voluntarily reported and do not establish causation.
| Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|
| DEATH | 77 |
| FALL | 19 |
| HALLUCINATION | 14 |
| COMPLETED SUICIDE | 13 |
| PARKINSON^S DISEASE | 12 |
| DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 9 |
| PNEUMONIA | 9 |
| DEMENTIA | 6 |
| ABNORMAL BEHAVIOUR | 5 |
| CARDIAC ARREST | 5 |
| CARDIO-RESPIRATORY ARREST | 5 |
| CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 5 |
| CONFUSIONAL STATE | 5 |
| MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION | 5 |
| PNEUMONIA ASPIRATION | 5 |
| SUICIDAL IDEATION | 5 |
| ASTHENIA | 4 |
| CARDIAC DISORDER | 4 |
| DEPRESSION | 4 |
| DYSPHAGIA | 4 |
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Top reactions in 570 reports where hospitalization was an outcome.
| Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|
| FALL | 72 |
| DRUG INTERACTION | 50 |
| DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 43 |
| DYSKINESIA | 43 |
| HALLUCINATION | 42 |
| CONFUSIONAL STATE | 40 |
| HALLUCINATION, VISUAL | 32 |
| SEROTONIN SYNDROME | 32 |
| HYPOTENSION | 29 |
| ANXIETY | 25 |
| DIZZINESS | 24 |
| INSOMNIA | 23 |
| PNEUMONIA | 22 |
| DEHYDRATION | 21 |
| DYSKINESIA HYPERPYREXIA SYNDROME | 21 |
| TREMOR | 21 |
| AGITATION | 20 |
| DYSPNOEA | 20 |
| URINARY TRACT INFECTION | 20 |
| DEPRESSION | 19 |
Nearby — Related Medications
What the FAERS Data Reveals About selegiline Side Effects
The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) contains 2,896 voluntary reports linked to selegiline and its brand equivalents (Emsam), spanning 2003 through 2025. Of those, 164 (5.7%) listed death as an outcome and 570 (19.7%) involved hospitalization. The most common indication reported alongside adverse events was Depression.
Demographic breakdowns help contextualize who is being exposed to the drug. Of reports with known sex, 55% were female and 45% male; age distribution skews toward 45-64, with 613 reports in that bracket. The single most reported reaction is drug ineffective with 323 submissions, followed by insomnia and application site erythema.
FAERS is a signal-detection tool, not a scorecard. Reports are voluntary, and a single case may list multiple suspect drugs, so numbers above should not be read as incidence rates or per-patient risk. Widely prescribed drugs naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies even when individual risk is low. These aggregates are useful for spotting patterns that merit further pharmacovigilance, not for choosing between medications. This page is for educational reference only and is not medical advice — speak with a licensed clinician about any side-effect concerns.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.