THURSDAY, May 18, 2006 (HealthDay News) -- A new drug to treat Parkinson's disease has been approved for sale in the United States, the federal Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday.
The drug Azilect (rasagiline) blocks the breakdown of dopamine, a chemical for cellular signaling that controls muscle movement. The breakdown of dopamine contributes to the movement and coordination problems that affect people with Parkinson's.
The FDA approved Azilect as an initial single-drug therapy for early Parkinson's and as an addition to levodopa -- the standard treatment for Parkinson's -- in patients with more advanced stages of the progressive disease, the Associated Press reported.
Azilect -- made by Teva Pharmaceutical Industries of Israel -- belongs to a class of drugs that can cause dangerous interactions when patients consume food or beverages that contain a substance called tyramine, which is found in products such as draft beer, red wine, aged cheeses, soy sauce, and salamis.
These interactions can cause a sudden and severe increase in blood pressure that can result in stroke and death. The FDA said the drug can also cause side effects such as involuntary movements, hallucinations and lowered blood pressure, the AP reported.
More information
To learn more about Parkinson's disease, visit the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
