Rasagiline Mesylate Coupons & Prices

A rasagiline mesylate coupon from Rx.com can lower what you pay at the pharmacy counter for this generic Parkinson's disease tablet, the same medicine sold under the brand name Azilect. Rasagiline is a selective MAO-B inhibitor used to treat idiopathic Parkinson's disease, either on its own in early disease or added to levodopa when "off" episodes appear. Cash prices swing a lot from one pharmacy to the next, even within the same town, so it pays to check before you fill. Enter your ZIP above to see today's price at pharmacies near you, then show the coupon at the counter. No insurance is needed, and there is no membership fee.

What is rasagiline mesylate and how does it work?

Rasagiline mesylate is a prescription tablet in a drug class called selective monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) inhibitors, used as an antiparkinson agent. In Parkinson's disease, the brain gradually loses the cells that make dopamine, a chemical messenger that helps control movement. Rasagiline blocks MAO-B, the enzyme that breaks dopamine down, so more of the dopamine you still have stays available and active for longer.

It is FDA-approved only for idiopathic Parkinson's disease. It can be used as monotherapy in early disease, or as an add-on to levodopa (with or without other Parkinson's medicines) in people who have motor fluctuations and "off" episodes, when symptoms return before the next dose is due. It is not approved for any other condition. The tablets come in 0.5 mg and 1 mg strengths, and your dose depends on how the medicine is being used, so follow the exact directions on your prescription. Do not stop rasagiline abruptly on your own; talk with your prescriber first.

Rasagiline mesylate cost and coupon savings

Rasagiline is available as a generic, but that does not mean every pharmacy charges the same. Cash prices for the very same strength and quantity can differ dramatically between a chain drugstore, a grocery pharmacy, and an independent down the street, because each sets its own cash price. Comparing before you fill is the single biggest thing you can control, and the cheapest option is not always the pharmacy you expect.

Rx.com compares cash prices at pharmacies near you and gives you a free coupon to bring to the counter. Enter your ZIP above to see today's price in your area. A few practical notes if you are paying cash:

• Ask about a 90-day supply. Rasagiline is a long-term daily medicine, and larger fills are sometimes cheaper per tablet.
• Check the strength with your prescriber. Rasagiline comes as 0.5 mg and 1 mg tablets, and the cash price is not always proportional between them.
• A coupon cannot be combined with insurance, but you may use it instead of insurance if the cash price beats your copay. Compare both.
• The manufacturer of brand Azilect, Teva, lists patient assistance information on its official website; eligibility and terms vary, and assistance programs generally apply to brand products, not generics.

Rasagiline alternatives and how it compares

Rasagiline is one of several medicines used for Parkinson's disease, and they are often combined rather than swapped. Selegiline is another MAO-B inhibitor, and safinamide (Xadago), approved in 2017 as an add-on to levodopa/carbidopa in people with "off" episodes, is a third. These MAO-B inhibitors are not interchangeable with one another and should not be taken together. Carbidopa-levodopa remains the mainstay treatment for motor symptoms, and rasagiline is frequently added to it to smooth out "off" time. Entacapone works through a different enzyme (COMT) and is also used as a levodopa add-on.

Dopamine agonists such as pramipexole and ropinirole act directly on dopamine receptors and are sometimes used early or alongside other therapy. Amantadine is also used in Parkinson's disease; the immediate-release tablets and capsules are approved for parkinsonism and for drug-induced extrapyramidal reactions, while a separate extended-release product (Gocovri) is the form approved for levodopa-induced dyskinesia. Brand Azilect and generic rasagiline mesylate contain the same active ingredient in the same form. Only your neurologist or prescriber can decide which combination fits your stage of disease; this page is for price comparison, not for changing therapy on your own.

Safety, food, and drug interactions to know

Rasagiline does not carry a boxed warning, but it has some important interaction rules. It must not be taken with meperidine, tramadol, methadone, propoxyphene, dextromethorphan, St. John's wort, cyclobenzaprine, or other MAO inhibitors (including other MAO-B inhibitors), because of the risk of serotonin syndrome. The label says at least 14 days should pass between stopping rasagiline and starting one of those medicines, and at least 14 days between stopping one of them and starting rasagiline. Fluoxetine is an exception in one direction: at least five weeks should pass after stopping fluoxetine before rasagiline is started, because it stays in the body longer. Serotonin syndrome can also occur when rasagiline is combined with antidepressants such as SSRIs, SNRIs, and tricyclics, so your prescriber needs a complete list of everything you take, including over-the-counter cough medicines.

Rasagiline at recommended doses does not require a general low-tyramine diet. The label does, however, warn against foods that contain a very large amount of tyramine (more than about 150 mg per serving), such as certain aged cheeses like aged Stilton, because a very large tyramine load can raise blood pressure sharply. Report a severe headache or other unusual symptoms such as blurred vision to your doctor right away.

Other risks to be aware of include orthostatic hypotension and falls (especially early on and when rasagiline is added to levodopa), impulse control problems such as compulsive gambling, shopping, eating, or hypersexuality, hallucinations or psychotic-like behavior, increased dyskinesia when used with levodopa, and sudden onset of sleep or daytime sleepiness, which matters if you drive. People with Parkinson's disease have a higher risk of melanoma, so periodic skin exams are recommended. Rasagiline should not be used in people with moderate or severe liver (hepatic) impairment; people with mild hepatic impairment should use 0.5 mg daily. Tell your prescriber about any liver disease before you start. The most common side effects reported with rasagiline alone are flu-like symptoms, joint pain, depression, and indigestion; when it is added to levodopa, dyskinesia, weight loss, low blood pressure on standing, nausea, and falls are among the effects seen. This is a summary, not medical advice. Read the full label and talk with your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.