Why is Selegiline hydrochloride prescribed?
Eldepryl is prescribed along with levodopa/carbidopa for people with Parkinson’s disease. It is used when levodopa/carbidopa no longer seems to be working well. Eldepryl has no effect when taken by itself; it works only in combination with levodopa or levodopa/carbidopa. Parkinson’s disease, which causes muscle rigidity and difficulty with walking and talking, involves the progressive degeneration of a particular type of nerve cell. Early on, levodopa or levodopa/carbidopa alone may alleviate the symptoms of the disease. In time, however, these medications work less well; their effectiveness seems to switch on and off at random, and the individual may begin to experience side effects such as involuntary movements and “freezing” in mid-motion. Eldepryl may be prescribed at this stage of the disease to help restore the effectiveness of levodopa or levodopa/carbidopa. When you begin to take Eldepryl, you may need a reduced dosage of the other medication.
