Emsam

Emsam

     * Generic Name: selegiline transdermal system
     * Brand Name: Emsam


     * What is selegiline transdermal (Emsam)?
     * What are the possible side effects of selegiline transdermal
       (Emsam)?
     * What is the most important information I should know about
       selegiline transdermal (Emsam)?
     * What should I discuss with my health care provider before using
       selegiline transdermal (Emsam)?
     * How should I use selegiline transdermal (Emsam)?
     * What happens if I miss a dose (Emsam)?
     * What happens if I overdose (Emsam)?
     * What should I avoid while using selegiline transdermal (Emsam)?
     * What other drugs will affect selegiline transdermal (Emsam)?
     * Where can I get more information (Emsam)?

What is selegiline transdermal (Emsam)?

   Selegiline prevents the breakdown of chemicals in the brain that
   are often imbalanced in people with depression.

   Selegiline transdermal is used to treat major depressive disorder in
   adults and adolescents who are at least 12 years old.

   Selegiline may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication
   guide.

What are the possible side effects of selegiline transdermal (Emsam)?

   Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction:
   hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or
   throat.

   Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor, such as: mood or
   behavior changes, anxiety, panic attacks, trouble sleeping, or if
   you feel impulsive, irritable, agitated, hostile, aggressive, restless,
   hyperactive (mentally or physically), more depressed, or have thoughts
   about suicide or hurting yourself.

   Remove the skin patch and get emergency medical help if you have any of
   these signs of dangerously high blood pressure: sudden and severe
   headache, confusion, vision problems, chest pain, pounding in your
   neck or ears, sweating, vomiting, neck stiffness, fast or slow
   heartbeats, or dilated pupils.

   Call your doctor at once if you have:
     * sudden numbness or weakness (especially on one side of the
       body);
     * problems with speech or balance;
     * manic episodes--racing thoughts, increased energy, unusual
       risk-taking behavior, extreme happiness, being irritable or
       talkative.

   Remove the patch and seek medical attention right away if you have
   symptoms of serotonin syndrome, such as: agitation, hallucinations,
   fever, sweating, shivering, fast heart rate, muscle stiffness,
   twitching, loss of coordination, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

   Common side effects may include:
     * redness or itching where the patch is worn;
     * headache;
     * diarrhea, upset stomach, dry mouth;
     * sleep problems (insomnia);
     * rash; or
     * sinus pain or stuffy nose.

   This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call
   your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side
   effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about selegiline
transdermal (Emsam)?

   You should not use selegiline if you have an adrenal gland tumor or
   if you are using certain other medicines. Many drugs can interact with
   selegiline, and some drugs should not be used together.

   Some young people have thoughts about suicide when first using an
   antidepressant. Stay alert to changes in your mood or symptoms.
   Report any new or worsening symptoms to your doctor.

   Emsam Patient Information including How Should I Take
   Depression Overview:What is Depression?

   Understanding Depression Slideshow
   RxList

   Take the Depression Quiz
   Depression:Tips for Exercise Diet and Stress Reduction

   Depression Tips Slideshow Pictures

What should I discuss with my health care provider before using selegiline
transdermal (Emsam)?

   You should not use selegiline if you are allergic to it, or if you have
   pheochromocytoma (tumor of the adrenal gland).

   Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used with
   selegiline. Your doctor may need to change your treatment plan if you
   have used any of the following drugs within the past 2 to 5 weeks:
     * carbamazepine;
     * dextromethorphan (cough medicine);
     * meperidine, methadone, pentazocine, or tramadol; or
     * certain antidepressants--citalopram, clomipramine,
       desvenlafaxine, duloxetine, fluoxetine, imipramine,
       milnacipran, paroxetine, sertraline, venlafaxine,
       Cymbalta, Effexor, Savella, Pristiq, Prozac,
       Zoloft, and others.

   To make sure selegiline is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have
   ever had:
     * heart disease, high blood pressure;
     * seizures or epilepsy; or
     * bipolar disorder (manic depression) or suicide attempt.

   Some young people have thoughts about suicide when first taking an
   antidepressant. Your doctor should check your progress at regular
   visits. Your family or other caregivers should also be alert to changes
   in your mood or symptoms.

   It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby.
   However, you may have a relapse of depression if you stop using your
   antidepressant. Tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Do
   not start or stop selegiline during pregnancy without your doctor's
   advice.

   It is not known whether selegiline passes into breast milk or if it
   could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this
   medicine and for at least 5 days after your last dose.

   Selegiline transdermal is not approved for use by anyone younger than
   12 years old.

How should I use selegiline transdermal (Emsam)?

   Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may
   occasionally change your dose. Do not use this medicine in larger or
   smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

   Read all patient information, medication guides, and instruction sheets
   provided to you. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any
   questions.

   Apply the patch to clean, dry, and hairless skin on your chest, back,
   thigh, or the outer part of your upper arm. Press the patch firmly into
   place. You may leave the patch on while bathing, showering, or
   swimming. Remove the skin patch after 24 hours and replace it with
   a new one. Choose a different place on your body to wear the patch each
   time you put on a new one.

   Wash your hands with soap and water after applying a patch, and after
   removing one.

   If a patch falls off, try sticking it back into place. If it does not
   stick well, put on a new patch and leave it on only for the rest of
   your wearing time. Do not change your patch removal schedule.

   Do not wear more than one selegiline patch at a time. Using extra skin
   patches will not make the medication more effective. Never cut a skin
   patch. While you are wearing the patch, do not expose it to sunlight or
   other sources of heat such as a heating pad, electric blanket, hot tub,
   or sauna.

   If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are
   using selegiline. You may need to stop using the medicine for at least
   10 days before a planned surgery. Do not stop using selegiline without
   first talking to your doctor.

   Store the skin patches at room temperature away from heat and moisture.
   Keep each patch in the foil pouch until you are ready to apply one.

   Keep both used and unused selegiline skin patches out of the reach of
   children or pets. The amount of selegiline in a used skin patch could
   be fatal to a child or pet who accidentally chews on the patch. Seek
   emergency medical attention if this happens.

   Emsam Patient Information including If I Miss a Dose
   Depression Overview:What is Depression?

   Understanding Depression Slideshow
   RxList

   Take the Depression Quiz
   Depression:Tips for Exercise Diet and Stress Reduction

   Depression Tips Slideshow Pictures

What happens if I miss a dose (Emsam)?

   Apply a skin patch as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it
   is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not use extra patches
   to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose (Emsam)?

   Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at
   1-800-222-1222. Overdose symptoms may occur up to 12 hours after the
   overdose, and could get worse over the next 24 to 48 hours.

   Overdose symptoms may include severe headache, hallucinations, fever,
   cold or clammy skin, fast or irregular heart rate, trouble breathing,
   feeling agitated or irritable, twisting muscle movements, unusual
   arching in your back or neck, fainting, or seizure.

What should I avoid while using selegiline transdermal (Emsam)?

   Avoid drinking alcohol while you are using selegiline.

   While using the 9-mg or 12-mg patches, and for 14 days after you stop,
   you must NOT eat foods that are high in tyramine, including:
     * air dried meats, aged or fermented meats, sausage or salami
       (including cacciatore and mortadella), pickled herring, and any
       spoiled or improperly stored beef, poultry, fish, or liver;
     * beer from a tap, beer that has not been pasteurized;
     * aged cheeses (such as blue, Swiss, cheddar, Parmesan, or Romano
       cheese);
     * over-the-counter supplements or cough and cold medicines that
       contain tyramine;
     * sauerkraut, soy beans, soy sauce, tofu, fava beans; or
     * yeast extracts (such as Marmite).

   Eating tyramine while you are using selegiline can raise your blood
   pressure to dangerous levels which could cause life-threatening side
   effects. You should become very familiar with the list of foods to
   avoid while you are using selegiline 9-mg or 12-mg patches.

   This medicine may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you
   drive or do anything that requires you to be alert.

What other drugs will affect selegiline transdermal (Emsam)?

   If you have been taking fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), you must stop
   taking it for 5 weeks before you begin using selegiline transdermal.

   Many drugs can interact with selegiline, and some drugs should not be
   used together. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and
   any you start or stop using, especially:
     * buspirone (BuSpar);
     * any other antidepressant;
     * cough or cold medicine that contains a decongestant such as
       phenylephrine or pseudoephedrine;
     * prescription or over-the-counter diet pills;
     * an herbal or dietary supplement that contains tyramine; or
     * stimulant medicine such as Adderall or other medicines to
       treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

   This list is not complete and many other drugs can interact with
   selegiline. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines,
   vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed
   in this medication guide.

   After you stop using selegiline, you may need to wait at least 2 weeks
   before you start using other medicines.

Where can I get more information (Emsam)?

   Your pharmacist can provide more information about selegiline
   transdermal.
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