Generic Selegiline

For the past two years, my husband (52) has been taking Mirapex and Eldepryl . When we reordered his Eldepryl, they substituted a "generic" selegiline which has just now been released. I am supposing that Eldepryl's patent has run out. I found the following article on the internet (see below) and wrote to our doctor about it. He rewrote Dan's prescription "medically necessary" as he too felt that the generics are not well enough researched. You will note that the generic was tested on "NON-PD" volunteers and does not have to show the rate at which it gets into the bloodstream and at what rate it gets there. It is extremely important in PD to get the meds correctly balanced, so we have opted to pay the "extra" for the "name brand" drug. Please let me say that this is "OUR" decision and the decision of our neurologist. You may have a different opinion. Just wanted to share with you.....

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                   The Real Cost of Generic Selegiline (HCl) Tablets
                   The Experts Speak Out

You are probably aware that generic selegiline hydrochloride tablets are now available. While the lower cost of these generics may seem appealing, there are no real substitutes for Eldepryl® (selegiline hydrochloride) Capsules, and the price you may pay in controlling your PD may be higher than you think. At a recent conference in Tampa, Florida, eight PD experts met to discuss this important issue. Here's a summary of what they found.

Generic selegiline tablets were not approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration using the same criteria required for brand-name Eldepryl. First, these generic tablets were tested only in a small number of healthy volunteers who didn't have PD. Second, the generic companies were not required to confirm that their products were bioequivalent with Eldepryl® (selegiline hydrochloride) Capsules. This means the companies did not have to show that their tablets are absorbed into the bloodstream at the same rate or to the same extent as your Eldepryl Capsules.

This is very important because after you take an Eldepryl® (selegiline hydrochloride) Capsule it's mostly broken down by chemical substances in your body until a certain amount of active medicine reaches your bloodstream. Then, that medicine travels to your brain, where it works along with your Sinemet®* (carbidopa/levodopa) to control your PD. Your doctor has worked very carefully to make sure that you take just the right amount of Sinemet, so that when the active medicine from your Eldepryl Capsules reaches your brain, the effect is just right.

The truth is, if you switch to generic selegiline tablets, the amount of medicine that reaches your brain may be different from what you currently get from Eldepryl® (selegiline hydrochloride) Capsules, and because generic tablets are interchangeable, your medicine may even differ from month to month when receiving different generics. So any switching can mean problems. If the amount of active medicine your brain receives is too high, you can experience random movements, nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, and heart pounding. If it's too low, your Sinemet will not work as well. This means your symptoms can get worse and you may be more likely to lose your balance and fall.

The experts agree: Despite the cost savings, generic selegiline tablets may not be worth it. You may be able to save some money, but what you can lose in terms of controlling your PD could be a much higher price to pay.

*Sinemet is a registered trademark of MERCK & CO., Inc. and is marketed by Du Pont Pharmaceuticals.