Afrelect 0.5 mg Tablet

Afrelect 0.5 mg Tablet is a prescription anti-Parkinsonian medicine containing 0.5 mg of rasagiline in each tablet. It belongs to the monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) inhibitor class and is used to help manage symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, usually alongside other treatment plans. Afrelect 0.5 mg Tablet is taken by mouth and is not a cure, but it may help improve movement-related symptoms such as stiffness, slowness, and tremor. Because it is the 0.5 mg strength, it is a lower-strength tablet that a doctor may choose when a smaller dose is needed or before any increase to a higher strength.

How it works: Rasagiline works by blocking the MAO-B enzyme in the brain, which helps protect dopamine from being broken down too quickly. In tablet form, Afrelect 0.5 mg Tablet helps raise the amount of dopamine available, which can ease Parkinson’s symptoms over time.

Afrelect 0.5 mg Tablet is the lower of the two strengths listed, compared with Afrelect 1 mg Tablet. Doctors may choose Afrelect 0.5 mg Tablet when a patient needs a lower initial dose, has a greater chance of side effects, or when dose adjustment is being done more cautiously. It may be preferred for people who should not jump straight to the 1 mg strength.

• Parkinson’s disease symptom control
• Help with slowness of movement
• Help with stiffness and rigidity
• Help with tremor
• Adjunct treatment with other Parkinson’s medicines

• Swallow Afrelect 0.5 mg Tablet whole with water; do not crush or chew unless your pharmacist or doctor says otherwise.
• Take it exactly as prescribed, at the same time each day if possible.
• It can be taken with or without food.
• Do not take extra tablets to make up for a missed dose unless your prescriber tells you to do so.
• Avoid taking it too close to bedtime if it causes trouble sleeping, and ask your doctor if timing needs adjustment.

Each Afrelect 0.5 mg Tablet provides 0.5 mg of rasagiline. The dosing schedule may be once daily, but the exact frequency and whether the dose should be kept at 0.5 mg or changed to a higher strength depends on your doctor’s judgment and your treatment plan. Do not take more than the prescribed daily amount.

Do not change your dose or stop the medicine without speaking to your doctor.

Common side effects of Rasagiline may include:

• Headache
• Joint pain
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Insomnia or trouble sleeping
• Constipation
• Mild abdominal discomfort

• Afrelect 0.5 mg Tablet is still a prescription MAO-B inhibitor, so dosing must be supervised by a doctor.
• Tell your prescriber if you have liver disease, because rasagiline may not be appropriate in moderate or severe liver problems.
• Use caution with alcohol because it may worsen dizziness or sleepiness.
• Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Afrelect 0.5 mg Tablet affects you.
• Do not use with certain antidepressants, opioids, or cough/cold medicines without medical review.
• Tell your doctor about any heart disease, high blood pressure, or history of movement disorders that worsen suddenly.
• If you are taking the 0.5 mg tablet because a lower dose was chosen for side-effect concerns, do not increase to Afrelect 1 mg Tablet unless your doctor instructs you to do so.

• Antidepressants such as SSRIs, SNRIs, tricyclics, or other serotonergic medicines
• Tramadol, meperidine, methadone, or other opioid pain medicines
• Dextromethorphan-containing cough and cold products
• Other MAO inhibitors, including linezolid or certain antibiotics with MAOI activity
• St. John’s wort and other herbal products that may affect serotonin

Store Afrelect 0.5 mg Tablet in its original strip/box at room temperature, away from moisture, heat, and direct light.