What is the best time to take selegiline/midopir?

Selegiline/imidopid (Selegiline) is a selective monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitor, mainly used for Parkinson's disease and its adjuvant treatment. In clinical practice, the taking time of a drug directly affects the efficacy and risk of side effects, so knowing the optimal taking time is crucial to the patient's therapeutic effect.

For selegiline in the form of orally disintegrating tablets, it is recommended to take it before breakfast. This is based on drug absorption characteristics and bioavailability optimization considerations. When taking the medicine, the patient should place the orally disintegrating tablet under the tongue or in the mouth to dissolve, and avoid eating or drinking for at least 5 minutes before and after taking the medicine. This approach ensures that the drug is quickly absorbed in the mouth and gastrointestinal tract, so that it is most effective during the waking hours in the morning. Taking it in the morning may also help reduce the risk of insomnia due to CNS stimulant effects, as selegiline may slightly increase dopamine activity after it takes effect, thereby affecting nighttime sleep.

In addition, the pharmacological effect of selegiline is mainly reflected in inhibitingMAO-B, thereby delaying dopamine degradation and increasing intersynaptic dopamine concentration. Taking the drug in the morning can provide stable dopamine level support during the peak activity period of the day, allowing patients with Parkinson's disease to have better exercise ability during daytime activities, while assisting patients with severe depression to improve symptoms of morning sleepiness or lack of energy. For individual patients who are sensitive to drugs, doctors may adjust the taking time according to symptoms, but it is usually not recommended to take it in the evening or before going to bed to avoid affecting night sleep.

It needs to be emphasized that selegiline orally disintegrating tablets should be taken at a fixed time according to the doctor's instructions and maintained regularly to ensure stable drug blood concentration and optimal efficacy. Patients should also pay attention to interactions with other drugs while taking it, follow dietary guidance, and avoid taking high-tyrosine foods with the drug in a short period of time to reduce the potential risk of hypertension.

Reference: https://www.drugs.com/mtm/selegiline.html