What is Zelapar?

Each Zelapar oral lyophilisate contains 1.25mg of selegiline hydrochloride (active ingredient) and gelatin, mannitol, aspartame, grapefruit flavour, glycine, anhydrous citric acid and yellow coloring OPATINT AD 22901 (including yellow ferric oxide [E172], ethanol, hypromellose [E464]) (inactive ingredients).

Zelapar oral lyophilisates are pale yellow, round, and embossed with an "A" on one side. They come in packs of 10 or 30.

What type of medicine is Zelapar?

Zelapar inhibits an enzyme called monoamine oxidase B and belongs to a group of drugs called monoamine oxidase B inhibitors. The oral lyophilisate is specially designed to dissolve rapidly on your tongue.

What is Zelapar for?

Zelapar is used to treat Parkinson's disease, either on its own or with other medicines.

You should check the following items before taking this product:

Do not take Zelapar if you have had an allergic reaction to selegiline in the past or to any of the other ingredients.
Do not take Zelapar if you are already taking pethidine or any other opioid analgesic.
Do not take Zelapar if you are taking medicines for migraine called serotonin agonist (e.g. Sumatriptan).
Do not take Zelapar if you have a stomach ulcer.
Do not take Zelapar if you have a condition called phenylketonuria.
If you are already taking levodopa, do not take Zelapar as well if you have any of the following conditions:

• Severe heart disease, angina, hypertension, or palpitations (tachy cardia or arrhythmia)
• An overactive thyroid
• Narrow-angle glaucoma
• A tumour of the prostate which restricts urination
• A serious psychiatric disorder

If agitation develops when Zelapar is added to your levodopa, tell your doctor.
Do not take Zelapar if you are pregnant, intending to become pregnant or breast-feeding. If you have liver disease, heart disease or a history of stomach ulcers tell your doctor.

What if I am taking other medicines?

Please tell your doctor about any medicines you have bought for yourself without a prescription or if you are already taking any of the following medicines:

Medicines, which stimulate the sympathetic nervous system. These are medicines, which are usually used to treat heart problems but also include medicines such as salbutamil, which is used to treat asthma and ephedrine, which is used to help relieve nasal congestion. Medicines, which lower your blood pressure. Medicines, which raise your blood pressure. Medicines, which stimulate your general awareness. Medicines that have a calming effect to relieve anxiety or tension and medicines for sleeping. Amantadine (used to treat Parkinson's disease) or medicines, which relax the muscles of the gut.

Special Warnings

The recommended daily dose of Zelapar is ONE oral lyophilisate containing 1.25mg of Selegiline hydrochloride.

Zelapar may effect the time it takes you to react to events. If this happens to you do not drive or operate machinery. Do not drink alcohol if you are taking these tablets.

How to take your medicine

Follow your doctor's instructions exactly on how many Zelapar oral lyophilisates to take and when. The usual dose is one oral lyophilisate a day, at least 5 minutes before breakfast. Remove the oral lyophilisate by peeling back the foil and carefully pushing it out from underneath.

Do not try to push the oral lyophilisate through the foil because this will damage the oral lyophilisate.

Place the oral lyophilisate in your tongue. The medicine will quickly dissolve on your tongue. Do not have a drink, eat or rinse your mouth for 5 minutes after taking this medicine.

What if I take too many oral lyophilisate?

If you take too many oral lyophilisates contact your doctor at once or go to the nearest casualty department. Remember to have your pack of medicine with you so that the doctor knows what you have taken.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose (up to eight hours before), do not take the missed doe but take your next dose at the time it is due. Do not take any extra oral lyophilisates. Always check that you have enough oral lyophilisate and make sure that you go back to your doctor before you run out.

What are the side effects?

As with all medicines, as well as benefits there may be some effects you do not want. When Zelapar is taken by itself it is generally well tolerate. Some people may suffer from back pain, dizziness, tremor or sore throats. Occasionally people taking Zelapar have experienced inflammation of the mouth, mouth ulcers, impaired balance, muscle cramps, joint pain, falls, difficulty in sleeping, abnormal dreams, hallucinations, blocked nose, constipation and diarrhea. In addition people taking selegiline, the active ingredient of Zelapar, have experienced depression, chest pain, muscle disorders and low blood pressure. Dry mouth, tiredness headache, nausea and transient liver problems have also been reported. Tell your doctor if any of these effects occur or if the medicine is making you feel unwell in any way. If you take Zelapar with levodopa you may feel unable to control your movements, become agitated, unable to sleep, or confused. If this happens tell your doctor. Occasionally people taking selegiline, the active ingredient of Zelapar, in combination with levodopa have experienced dizziness, low blood pressure, difficulty in sleeping, dry mouth, nausea, transient liver problems, confusion, hallucinations and serious psychiatric symptoms. Loss of appetite, headache, anxiety, irritability, difficulty of passing urine, shortness of breath, palpitations, chest pain, tiredness, depression, loss of balance, high blood pressure, fainting, excessive perspiration, swelling of the ankles, hair loss and blurred vision may occur occasionally.

Use by date

After you have opened the sachet containing a blister strip of the medicine, discard the medicine within 3 months.

Do not use it after the expiry date, which is printed on the pack.

Other important points

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children. These Zelapar oral lyophilisates are for you and you must not give them to anyone else.