Rasagiline for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease: an update

Abstract

Introduction: Rasagiline is a potent, selective, irreversible Monoamine Oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibitor, developed to prolong the action of dopamine in the brain. It has been demonstrated that rasagiline can improve motor and some non-motor symptoms (NMS) in both early and advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, and it also exhibits neuroprotective and antiapoptotic properties.

Areas covered: The objective of this review, performed by a Medline search on the most recent papers investigating the therapeutic effects of rasagiline, is to describe the role of rasagiline in the schedule of treatment of early and advanced PD patients. It will then focus on its role in treating NMS, fatigue, early morning off and cognitive decline, which heavily affect quality of life for PD patients.

Expert opinion: Rasagiline is an efficacious, well-tolerated, easy to use drug. The drug has been extensively studied and has proven its efficacy in monotherapy and in combination with any other antiparkinsonian therapy. It proved to be efficacious in reducing ‘off’ time and in improving early morning ‘off’ but also some NMS, thus enhancing the therapeutic approach to PD.

Keywords:

• early morning akinesia
• fatigue
• levodopa
• monoamine oxidase-B inhibitors
• motor fluctuations
• non-motor symptoms
• Parkinson’s disease
• rasagiline

Declaration of interest

F Stocchi has received funding from Teva, Lundbeck, Chiesi, UCB Pharma and Impax Laboratories. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

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