Which statement describes the action class of selegiline?

Which statement describes the action class of selegiline?

• A. MAO-B inhibitor
• B. Dopamine antagonist
• C. Cholinesterase inhibitor
• D. NMDA receptor antagonist

Answer: (A)

Selegiline works by inhibiting monoamine oxidase-B, an enzyme that mainly breaks down dopamine in the brain. By blocking MAO-B, it reduces dopamine breakdown, increasing its availability in the striatum and helping improve motor symptoms in Parkinson disease. This selectivity for MAO-B at therapeutic doses also means fewer dietary interactions than with nonselective MAO inhibitors. It does not block dopamine receptors (that would be a dopamine antagonist), nor does it inhibit cholinesterase or NMDA receptors, which are different drug targets.

Selegiline works by inhibiting monoamine oxidase-B, an enzyme that mainly breaks down dopamine in the brain. By blocking MAO-B, it reduces dopamine breakdown, increasing its availability in the striatum and helping improve motor symptoms in Parkinson disease. This selectivity for MAO-B at therapeutic doses also means fewer dietary interactions than with nonselective MAO inhibitors. It does not block dopamine receptors (that would be a dopamine antagonist), nor does it inhibit cholinesterase or NMDA receptors, which are different drug targets.