Brands, Medical Use, Clinical Data
Drug Category
- Antiparkinson Agents
- Muscarinic Antagonists
- Antidyskinetics
Dosage Forms
Brands / Synonyms
Akitan; Apo-Benztropine; Benzatropina [Inn-Spanish]; Benzatropine; Benzatropinum [Inn-Latin]; Benztropine Mesylate; Benztropinum; Cobrentin; Cogentin; Cogentine; Cogentinol; Pms Benztropine; Tropine Benzohydryl Ether
Indications
For use as an adjunct in the therapy of all forms of parkinsonism and also for use in the control of extrapyramidal disorders due to neuroleptic drugs.
Pharmacology
Benztropine is an anticholinergic used in the symptomatic treatment of all etiologic groups of parkinsonism and drug induced extrapyramidal reactions (except tardive dyskinesia). Benztropine possesses both anticholinergic and antihistaminic effects, although only the former has been established as therapeutically significant in the management of parkinsonism. Benztropine's anticholinergic activity is about equal to that of atropine.
Mechanism of Action
Benztropine is a selective M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist. It is able to discriminate between the M1 (cortical or neuronal) and the peripheral muscarinic subtypes (cardiac and glandular). Benztropine partially blocks cholinergic activity in the CNS, which is responsible for the symptoms of Parkinson's disease. It is also thought to increase the availability of dopamine, a brain chemical that is critical in the initiation and smooth control of voluntary muscle movement.
Absorption
Not Available
Toxicity
Signs of overdose include confusion, nervousness, listlessness, hallucinations, dizziness; muscle weakness, ataxia, dry mouth, mydriasis, blurred vision, palpitations, tachycardia, elevated blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, dysuria, numbness of fingers, headache, delirium, coma, shock, convulsions, respiratory arrest, anhidrosis, hyperthermia, glaucoma, and constipation.
Biotrnasformation / Drug Metabolism
Not Available
Contraindications
Hypersensitivity to any component of benztropine mesylate tablets. Because of its atropine-like side effects, this
drug is contraindicated in children under three years of age and should be used with caution in older children.
Drug Interactions
Antipsychotic drugs such as phenothiazines or haloperidol; tricyclic antidepressants.
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