Generic name: safinamide [sa-FIN-a-mide]
Dopaminergic antiparkinsonism drugs are a type of drug.
What is Xadago?
MAO-B is the type of inhibitor that Xadago is. This medicine works by letting a chemical called dopamine (pronounced “doe-pa-meen”) stay active in the brain for longer. Parkinson’s disease is linked to a lack of dopamine in the brain.
People with Parkinson’s disease are given Xadago along with levodopa and carbidopa to treat “wearing-off” events, which include stiff muscles and a loss of control over the muscles.
Warnings
If your liver disease is very bad, you should not take Xadago.
TELL YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE YOU TAKE. Some drugs can make you feel sick or even kill you if you take them within 14 days of taking Xadago.
Drugs that are similar
ropinirole, pramipexole, carbidopa / levodopa, benztropine, Exelon, Gocovri
Before you take this drug
If you are allergic to safinamide or have serious liver disease, you should not use Xadago.
When taken with Xadago, some drugs can have unwanted or dangerous side effects, or even kill you. You shouldn’t take any of the following drugs 14 days before or after taking Xadago:
• amphetamines (Adderall, Dexedrine, and others);
• cough medicines with dextromethorphan;
• cyclobenzaprine;
• methylphenidate (Concerta, Ritalin, Daytrana, and others);
• St. John’s wort;
• another MAO inhibitor, such as isocarboxazid, linezolid, methylene blue injection, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegi
To make sure Xadago is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have ever had:
• liver disease;
• high or low blood pressure;
• bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or psychosis;
• unusual urges or impulses;
• unusual muscle movements;
• problems with the retina of your eye;
• narcolepsy or another sleep disorder; or (if you take medicine to help you sleep.)
It is not known if Xadago will hurt a baby who is still in the womb. If you are pregnant or want to get pregnant, you should tell your doctor.
No one knows if safinamide gets into breast milk or if it could hurt a baby who is being fed by a mother. If you are breastfeeding, you shouldn’t take this medicine.
How should I take Xadago?
Take Xadago exactly as your doctor has told you to. Follow all of the advice on the label of your medicine. Your doctor may change your dose from time to time. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than advised.
Safinamide should only be given with levodopa and carbidopa. It should not be taken on its own.
Most people take Xadago once a day at the same time every day.
This medicine can be taken with or without food.
People will need to check your blood pressure often.
Keep at room temperature and away from heat and moisture.
Information dosage
Normal dose for an adult with Parkinson’s disease:
Initial dose: 50 mg once a day by mouth
Maintenance amount: After two weeks, the dose can be raised to 100 mg orally once a day, depending on the person’s needs and how well they handle it.
Maximum dose: 100 mg per day
Comment: It hasn’t been shown that higher amounts are more helpful, but they do increase the risk of side effects.
-This medicine has only been shown to work when used with levodopa/carbidopa.
Use: Along with levodopa/carbidopa to help people with Parkinson’s disease who are having “off” episodes.
What will happen if I don’t take a dose?
As soon as you remember, take the dose you forgot. If it’s almost time for your next dose, don’t take the one you missed. Do not take more medicine than usual to make up for the dose you missed.
What happens if I overdose?
Get help from a doctor right away or call 1-800-222-1222 to reach the Poison Help line.
What not to do
You shouldn’t eat foods high in tyramine while taking Xadago and for 14 days after you stop. These foods include pickled foods (like eggs or herring) and aged, salted, smoked, or fermented meats.
If you take safinamide and eat tyramine at the same time, it can raise your blood pressure to dangerous levels, which could lead to side effects that could kill you. While you are taking Xadago, you should become very familiar with the list of things you should not eat.
Some people who took this medicine fell asleep while working, driving, or doing other physical tasks during the day. Don’t drive or use equipment until you know how this medicine will make you feel.
Xadago side effects
If you are allergic to Xadago and have hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, call 911 right away.
Call your doctor right away if:
• vision changes;
• twitching or uncontrolled muscle movements;
• confusion, agitation, unusual thoughts or behaviour;
• hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t real);
• a seizure;
• fever, sweating, fast heart rate, overactive reflexes;
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea; or
• high blood pressure – severe headache, blurred vision, pounding in your neck or ears, anxiety, nosebleed.
While taking this medicine, you may feel stronger urges to gamble, gamble more than normal, or have other strong urges. If this happens, you should talk to your doctor.
Some of the most common Xadago side effects are uncontrollable body movements, falling, feeling sick, or not being able to sleep (insomnia).
This isn’t a full list of all possible side effects, and there may be others. You should talk to your doctor about any side effects. You can call 1-800-FDA-1088 to tell the FDA about side affects.
Xadago side effects (more information)
What effects will other drugs have on Xadago?
Tell your doctor about any drugs you start or stop taking, especially ,
- imatinib
- lapatinib,
- methotrexate,
- metoclopramide,
- mitoxantrone,
- rosuvastatin,
- sulfasalazine, or
- topotecan.
This list doesn’t have everything. Other medicines, such as prescription and over-the-counter drugs, vitamins, and herbal products, may also combine with safinamide. This medicine guide does not list all of the possible drug interactions.
For more details,
Remember to keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, to never give your medicines to other people, and to only use Xadago for the reason your doctor told you to.
Talk to your doctor or other healthcare source to make sure that the information on this page applies to your situation.
Copyright 1996–2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 1.01.
