Safinamide is a monoamide oxidase inhibitor. It is indicated as an odd treatment of levodopa for Parkinson's disease. The monoamine oxidase is an enzyme that catalyzes the oxidative deamination of many amines like serotonin, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine. There are 2 isoforms of this protein: A and B. The first one is found in cells located in the periphery and breakdown serotonin, norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, and tyramine. The second one, the B isoform, breakdowns phenylethylamine, norepinephrine, epinephrine, dopamine, and tyramine. This isoform is found in the extracellular tissues and mostly in the brain. The mechanism of action of the MAOIs is still not determined, it is thought that they act by increasing free serotonin and norepinephrine concentrations and/or by altering the concentrations of other amines in the CNS. MAO A inhibition is thought to be more relevant to antidepressant activity than the inhibition caused by MAO B. Selective MAO B inhibitors have no antidepressant effects. Safinamide has multiple mechanisms of action and a very high therapeutic index, it binds only the B isoform of MAO but it also inhibits sodium and calcium channels and the glutamate release channels. This drug is administered as an oral tablet. An overdose of this drug will result in uncontrolled movements, falls, nausea, insomnia, hypertension, and hallucinations.

Safinamide Pathway References