Selegiline Hydrochloride and Tussionex PennKinetic

• Generic Name: selegiline
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Eldepryl, Zelapar, Emsam

Used as adjunctive therapy for symptomatic treatment of parkinsonian syndrome (e.g., parkinsonism, Parkinson disease [paralysis agitans]) in patients who exhibit a deteriorating response to levodopa/carbidopa; designated an orphan drug by FDA for this condition. Appears to be most beneficial when used during the early stages of the “wearing off” effect. Especially useful in improving “end-of-dose” motor fluctuations.

Has been used as monotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed parkinsonian syndrome. Because selegiline is well tolerated and possibly neuroprotective (i.e., reduces the rate of progression of parkinsonian syndrome ), some clinicians initiate therapy with selegiline in such patients, reserving levodopa or another agent (i.e., dopamine agonist) until manifestations become severe enough to warrant more aggressive therapy. However, the manufacturers state that there is no evidence from controlled studies indicating that selegiline provides benefit in the absence of concurrent levodopa therapy.

Has been used with equivocal results for the palliative treatment of mild to moderate dementia of the Alzheimer’s type (Alzheimer’s disease, presenile or senile dementia).

• Generic Name: chlorpheniramine / hydrocodone
• Dosage Forms: suspension, extended release
• Other Brand Names: Tussionex PennKinetic, TussiCaps, S-T Forte 2, HyTan, Novasus, Vituz

Tussionex PennKinetic is an extended release oral suspension containing a combination of of chlorpheniramine and hydrocodone.

Chlorpheniramine is an antihistamine that reduces the effects of natural chemical histamine in the body. Histamine can produce symptoms of sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and runny nose.

Hydrocodone is a narcotic cough suppressant. It affects the signals in the brain that trigger cough reflex.

Tussionex PennKinetic is used to treat runny nose, sneezing, itching, watery eyes, and cough caused by allergies, the common cold, or the flu.