Drug updated on 3/28/2024
| Dosage Form | Tablet (oral: 50 mg, 100 mg) |
| Drug Class | Monoamine oxidase type B (MAO-B) inhibitors |
| Ongoing and Completed Studies | ClinicalTrials.gov |
Indication
- Indicated as adjunctive treatment to levodopa/carbidopa in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) experiencing “off” episodes.
Summary
- Safinamide (Xadago) is indicated as an adjunctive treatment to levodopa/carbidopa in patients with Parkinson's disease experiencing "off" episodes.
- A total of 6 systematic reviews and meta-analyses were reviewed for information on the use, safety, and effectiveness of safinamide.
- In comparison to other monoamine oxidase B inhibitors such as selegiline and rasagiline, safinamide has shown potential beneficial effects on quality of life (QOL) and non-motor symptoms (NMS), including depression, sleep disturbances, and pain in Parkinson's disease patients according to one study.
- Another review found that when used as add-on therapy in PD patients with motor fluctuations taking levodopa, both 100mg daily dose or a 50mg daily dose of safinamide significantly increased ON-time without troublesome dyskinesia while reducing OFF-time; however evidence for efficacy in early PD was limited.
- One analysis comparing all available MAO-B inhibitors concluded that all investigated drugs are effective compared with placebo when given alone except for safanimaide; but it showed positive results when combined with Levodopa making it a viable option among the drugs investigated.
- The most significant reduction in pain severity amongst various treatments was observed using safanimaide according to another study which suggests its importance as an adjunct medication for alleviating pain associated with Parkinson’s Disease.
Product Monograph / Prescribing Information
| Document Title | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Xadago (Safinamide) Prescribing Information. | 2021 | US WorldMeds, LLC, Louisville, KY |
Systematic Reviews / Meta-Analyses
Clinical Practice Guidelines
| Document Title | Year | Source |
|---|---|---|
| A Spanish consensus on the use of safinamide for Parkinson’s disease in clinical practice. | 2020 | Brain Sciences |