Table 1.
Characteristics of MAO-B inhibitors.
| Selegiline | Rasagiline | Safinamide | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indication | Patients at Yahr severity scale I-IV for concomitant use of a levodopa-containing preparation, patients at Yahr severity scale I-III without concomitant use | PD patients (no limitation for concomitant drugs or severity) | Patients with a wearing-off phenomenon under treatment with levodopa |
| Monotherapy | Possible | Possible | Not possible (concomitant use with levodopa) |
| Dose | 2.5-10.0 mg/day, 4 steps | 1.0 mg/day (0.5 mg/day if liver disorder is present) | 50 or 100 mg/day |
| Number of oral doses per day | 1-2 | 1 | 1 |
| MAO-B inhibition | Irreversible | Irreversible | Reversible |
| Dopamine activity of metabolite | Present | Absent | Absent |
| Designation as a raw material for stimulant | Yes | No | No |