The pharmacokinetic evaluation of selegiline ODT for the treatment of Parkinson's disease

Introduction: Parkinson's disease affects a growing number of people. Its major treatment, levodopa therapy, however suffers from response fluctuations in the advanced phase of the disease. Adjunctive therapies have thus gained significant importance. The selective monoamine oxidase B inhibitor, selegiline, is widely used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. However, selegiline's pharmacokinetics has so far been unfavorable due to its extensive first-pass metabolism to its amphetamine metabolites. A new formulation, an orally disintegrating tablet (ODT), has recently been introduced to overcome these pharmacokinetic problems by avoiding its presystemic metabolism. Areas covered: The authors summarize the pharmacokinetic and clinical efficacy data of selegiline ODT and compare them with the more conventional oral selegiline. This evaluation also presents and compares the drug's safety data. Expert opinion: Selegiline ODT shows a clear pharmacokinetic advantage over the conventional form. It is characte...