selegiline
Brand names: Emsam
Selegiline is a medicine that can help manage Parkinson's disease. It is used along with levodopa/carbidopa when that medicine is not working as well as it used to.
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Brand Price
$68.68/unit
Generic Price
$0.61/unit
Generic Savings
99%
Generic Available
Yes (6 manufacturers)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
Selegiline is used to help people with Parkinson's disease.
Common side effects
Nausea, Dizziness, Light-headedness
Key warnings
Taking selegiline with meperidine (Demerol) is dangerous and can cause serious reactions.
How It Works
Selegiline is a selective MAO-B inhibitor. It works by blocking an enzyme in the brain that breaks down dopamine. This helps to increase the amount of dopamine available, which can improve motor control in Parkinson's disease.
How to Take It
Take selegiline tablets as your doctor tells you. The usual dose is 10 mg per day. This is split into two doses of 5 mg each. Take one dose at breakfast and the other at lunch.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
It is not known if selegiline can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if selegiline passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.
Missed Dose
If you miss a dose of selegiline, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
Storage
Store selegiline tablets at room temperature, between 68° to 77°F (20° to 25°C), in a tightly closed container away from light and moisture.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 1,675 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 2,896 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2003–2025.
Total Reports
2,896
Death-Related Reports
164
Hospitalization Reports
570
Top Indication
Depression
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 323 |
| 2 | INSOMNIA | 184 |
| 3 | APPLICATION SITE ERYTHEMA | 183 |
| 4 | DIZZINESS | 168 |
| 5 | HALLUCINATION | 166 |
| 6 | FALL | 137 |
| 7 | DYSKINESIA | 133 |
| 8 | DEPRESSION | 128 |
| 9 | ANXIETY | 126 |
| 10 | APPLICATION SITE RASH | 126 |
| 11 | DRUG INTERACTION | 123 |
| 12 | APPLICATION SITE PRURITUS | 120 |
| 13 | TREMOR | 116 |
| 14 | FATIGUE | 112 |
| 15 | NAUSEA | 111 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Taking selegiline with meperidine (Demerol) is dangerous and can cause serious reactions. Also, use caution when taking selegiline with tricyclic antidepressants or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) due to the risk of severe toxicity. One patient had a hypertensive crisis when taking selegiline with a sympathomimetic medicine (ephedrine).
Known Drug Interactions
Examples selegiline, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, linezolid, methylene blue Other Serotonergic Drugs Clinical Impact Concomitant use of PRISTIQ with other serotonergic drugs increases the risk of serotonin syndrome.
Mechanism: These medications both raise serotonin levels in your body. Combining them can lead to too much serotonin, which can cause a dangerous reaction.
What to do: Avoid using these drugs at the same time. Talk to your doctor about a safe schedule for switching between these medications.
Examples: selegiline, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, linezolid, methylene blue Other Serotonergic Drugs Clinical Impact: Concomitant use of FETZIMA with other serotonergic drugs increases the risk of serotonin syndrome.
Mechanism: Taking these medications together can cause serotonin levels to become dangerously high, leading to a condition called serotonin syndrome.
What to do: Talk to your doctor before using these together, as this combination is generally avoided.
Examples selegiline, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, linezolid, methylene blue Other Serotonergic Drugs Clinical Impact The concomitant use of serotonergic drugs with mirtazapine increases the risk of serotonin syndrome.
Mechanism: Both mirtazapine and selegiline increase the amount of serotonin in your brain. Combining them can lead to a toxic buildup of this chemical.
What to do: This combination should be avoided. Your doctor may need to adjust your dosages or monitor you very closely.
Examples selegiline, tranylcypromine, isocarboxazid, phenelzine, linezolid, methylene blue Pimozide and Thioridazine Clinical Impact Increased plasma concentrations of pimozide and thioridazine, drugs with a narrow therapeutic index, may increase the risk of QTc prolongation and ventricular arrhythmias.
Mechanism: Taking these two medicines together can cause a dangerous buildup of a brain chemical called serotonin.
What to do: Do not take these drugs together. Your doctor will usually have you wait a few weeks when switching from one to the other.
Examples: isocarboxazid, moclobemide, phenelzine, selegiline, tranylcypromine Other Serotonergic Drugs Clinical Impact: The concomitant use of serotonergic drugs including trazodone and other serotonergic drugs increases the risk of serotonin syndrome.
Mechanism: These medications both raise serotonin levels, and taking them at the same time increases the risk of a toxic reaction.
What to do: Consult your doctor before combining these drugs to ensure they are safe for you to use together.
Common Questions
Can I take more than 10 mg of selegiline per day?
Can selegiline be taken without levodopa/carbidopa?
Will selegiline cure my Parkinson's disease?
How long does it take for selegiline to start working?
Can I drink alcohol while taking selegiline?
What should I do if I experience side effects?
Can I stop taking selegiline suddenly?
Does selegiline interact with other medicines?
What if I forget to refill my prescription?
Can I drive while taking selegiline?
What are the common side effects of selegiline?
Does selegiline interact with other medications?
What drug class is selegiline?
Is there a generic version of selegiline?
Is selegiline safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Selective MAO-B Inhibitor
Other drugs grouped near selegiline — same-class peers and common alternatives.
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alprazolam
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Alprazolam (Xanax) is a medication that can help you with anxiety and panic disorders.
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amitriptyline
Elavil
Amitriptyline is a medicine used to treat depression.
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amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
Adderall, Adderall XR
Adderall XR is a stimulant medicine.
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aripiprazole
Abilify
Aripiprazole (Abilify) is a medicine used to treat certain mental disorders and mood problems.
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Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Related Health & Safety Data
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What the FDA Data Shows for selegiline
The FDA label for selegiline (sold under brand names such as Emsam) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Selective MAO-B Inhibitor class. Selegiline is used to help people with Parkinson's disease. Official labeling lists 10 commonly reported side effects, including Nausea, Dizziness, Light-headedness.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 1,675 voluntary reports. The database also lists 9 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.61 versus $68.68 for the brand — a 99% generic savings.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: November 24, 2025
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages