Xadago vs. Azilect

Xadago (safinamide) and Azilect (rasagiline) are monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) inhibitors used as adjunctive treatment to levodopa/carbidopa in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Side effects of Xadago and Azilect that are similar include nausea.

Side effects of Xadago that are different from Azilect include abnormal movements (dyskinesia), falls, insomnia, dizziness on standing, anxiety, cough, indigestion, high blood pressure, and falling asleep during daily activities.

Side effects of Azilect that are different from Xadago include dizziness, spinning sensation, joint pain, headache, depression, heartburn, fever, muscle pain, dry mouth, stomach upset or abdominal pain, hair loss, skin rash, numbness or tingly feeling, loss of appetite, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, impotence, loss of interest in sex, trouble having an orgasm, strange dreams, and flu symptoms.

Both Xadago and Azilect may interact with antidepressants and opioids.

Xadago may also interact with other MAO inhibitors, isoniazid, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), triazolopyridine, cyclobenzaprine, St. John's wort, dextromethorphan, sympathomimetics, tyramine, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), substrates of breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), antipsychotics, and metoclopramide.

Azilect may also interact with ciprofloxacin, theophylline, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicines for anxiety or seizures.

Common side effects of Xadago include:

• abnormal movements (dyskinesia),
• falls,
• nausea,
• insomnia,
• dizziness upon standing,
• anxiety,
• cough,
• indigestion,
• high blood pressure, or
• falling asleep during daily activities

Common side effects of Azilect include:

• dizziness,
• spinning sensation,
• joint pain,
• headache,
• depression,
• heartburn,
• nausea,
• fever,
• muscle pain,
• dry mouth,
• stomach upset or abdominal pain,
• hair loss,
• skin rash,
• numbness or tingly feeling,
• loss of appetite,
• constipation,
• diarrhea,
• vomiting,
• weight loss,
• impotence,
• loss of interest in sex,
• trouble having an orgasm,
• strange dreams, or
• flu symptoms.

If you are also taking levodopa, you may experience more side effects from the levodopa when taking Azilect. Tell your doctor if any of these side effects occur:

• nausea,
• shakiness,
• muscle stiffness,
• mental/mood changes such as hallucinations/abnormal dreams.

Xadago (safinamide) is a monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) inhibitor indicated as adjunctive treatment to levodopa/carbidopa in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) experiencing "off" episodes.

Azilect (rasagiline) is a monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibitor used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Azilect is sometimes used with another drug called levodopa.

Xadago may interact with other MAO inhibitors, isoniazid, opioids, serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), triazolopyridine, tricyclic or tetracyclic antidepressants, cyclobenzaprine, St. John's wort, dextromethorphan, sympathomimetics, tyramine, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), substrates of breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP), antipsychotics, or metoclopramide. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plant to become pregnant before using Xadago; it may harm a fetus. It is unknown if Xadago passes into breast milk. Because of the potential for adverse reactions in a nursing infant, breastfeeding while using Xadago is not recommended.

Azilect may interact with ciprofloxacin, theophylline, or antidepressants. Other drugs may affect Azilect. Tell your doctor all medications you use.

The initial dose of Xadago is 50 mg administered orally once daily at the same time of day; after two weeks, the dose may be increased to 100 mg once daily, based on individual need and tolerability.

The recommended dose of Azilect for the treatment of Parkinson's disease patients is 1 mg administered orally once daily.