What is the specific function of rasagiline tablets?

Rasagiline is a new, highly selective monoamine oxidase type B inhibitor (MAO-B inhibitor). Its main mechanism of action is to inhibit the activity of MAO-B enzyme in the brain, thereby reducing the degradation of dopamine, increasing the effective concentration of dopamine in the brain, and achieving the therapeutic effect of alleviating the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). One of the core pathological mechanisms of Parkinson's disease is the gradual degeneration and death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the midbrain, resulting in a significant decrease in dopamine levels in the brain. Rasagiline indirectly enhances dopaminergic neurotransmission by delaying dopamine degradation, thereby improving motor dysfunction such as tremor, myotonia, and bradykinesia.

In clinical applications, rasagiline is approved as a monotherapy for patients with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease, and can also be used in combination with levodopa to treat patients with intermediate and advanced stages. Especially when the effect of levodopa fluctuates, it can effectively prolong the duration of the "on phase" and reduce the "off phase" phenomenon. Research shows that compared with traditional MAO inhibitors, rasagiline has higher selectivity for MAO-B and has minimal effect on MAO-A at conventional doses, thus avoiding the possible hypertensive crisis caused by co-ingestion with tyramine-containing foods (such as cheese and red wine).

In addition, due to the irreversible inhibitory effect of rasagiline, even after the concentration in plasma decreases, the recovery of enzyme activity requires the synthesis of new enzymes, making its once-daily dosing frequency sufficient to maintain stable efficacy. Some studies also suggest that it may have a neuroprotective effect and can delay neurodegenerative changes by inhibiting oxidative stress and improving mitochondrial function, although this effect is still under further study.

Overall, rasagiline can not only significantly improve the motor symptoms of patients with Parkinson's disease, but its convenience, safety and potential neuroprotective value make it play an important role in the long-term management of PD.

Reference materials:https://www.azilect.com/