Is the effect of rasagiline (Azila) still significant after six years of long-term use?

Rasagiline (Rasagiline) is a selective monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) inhibitor. It is mainly used for early-stage Parkinson's disease (PD) and for patients with intermediate and advanced stages of combined levodopa treatment. It inhibits the degradation of dopamine in the brain by MAO-B and prolongs the action time of dopamine, thereby improving motor symptoms such as tremor, stiffness and bradykinesia. Long-term use of rasagiline can theoretically maintain stable dopamine levels and thus delay symptom progression.

Multiple clinical studies have shown that rasagiline maintains control of motor symptoms after years of continuous use. Even after six years of use, some patients can still achieve significant prolongation of the "on" time and improvement in exercise ability, especially for patients who used it early, and the long-term effects are better. In addition, long-term use may also have a certain alleviating effect on the progression of the disease and slow down the rate of functional loss.

However, as the disease progresses, dopaminergic neurons gradually decrease, and it may be difficult to fully maintain motor control through MAO-B inhibition alone. Some patients may still experience motor fluctuations or increased "off" time after six years of long-term use, requiring treatment adjustments in combination with levodopa or other anti-Parkinson drugs. Therefore, although rasagiline is effective in the long term, the efficacy may gradually vary among individuals as the disease progresses.

Overall, rasagiline still has significant efficacy after six years of long-term use, but the degree of efficacy maintenance is affected by the patient's disease progression, medication compliance, and combined medication regimens. Doctors usually regularly evaluate the efficacy and adverse reactions based on the patient's specific conditions, and adjust the dosage or combine it with other drugs when necessary to achieve the best individualized treatment effect while ensuring the patient's safety and quality of life during long-term medication.

Reference link:https://www.drugs.com