Selegiline Dosage

The selegiline dosing guidelines for treating Parkinson's disease are the same for everyone. The recommended standard selegiline dosage is 5 mg taken twice a day, once at breakfast and once at lunch. This medication is only approved for use in combination with carbidopa-levodopa medications. Selegiline comes in capsule form and should be taken at the same times every day to maintain an even level of the medication in your blood.

 

Selegiline Dosage: An Introduction

There is only one standard recommended dosage of selegiline hydrochloride (Eldepryl®) for Parkinson's disease treatment. As is always the case, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
 

Selegiline Dosing for Parkinson's Disease

The recommended starting selegiline dosage for Parkinson's disease is selegiline 5 mg twice daily, at breakfast and lunch.
 
Selegiline is only approved for use in combination with carbidopa-levodopa medications, such as Sinemet®, Sinemet® CR, or Parcopa®. Many people will need to use a lower carbidopa-levodopa dosage (especially if side effects occur). Your healthcare provider will determine when (and if) you need to lower your carbidopa-levodopa dosage.
 

General Selegiline Dosage Information

Some considerations for people taking selegiline include the following:
 
  • The medication comes in capsule form. It is taken by mouth twice a day, at breakfast and lunch.
     
  • You can take selegiline with food or on an empty stomach. If it seems to bother your stomach, try taking it with food.
     
  • Make sure to take selegiline at the same times each day to maintain an even level of the medication in your blood.
     
  • For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as prescribed. Selegiline will not work if you stop taking it. Do not suddenly stop taking the drug without first talking to your healthcare provider.
     
  • If you are unsure about anything related to your selegiline dosage, please talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist.
     
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;