anticholinergic drugs used in parkinsonism
Last reviewed 01/2018
The following anticholinergic drugs may be used to treat parkinsonism:
- benzhexol hydrochloride - trihexyphenidyl is the recommended International Nonproprietary Name for this drug:
- initial dose 1 mg daily
- usual maintenance dose 5-15 mg in 3-4 doses
- benztropine mesylate:
- initial dose 0.5 mg daily
- maximum dose usually 6 mg daily
- biperiden:
- initial dose 1 mg twice daily
- usual maintenance dose 3-12 mg daily in divided doses
- may be given as an intramuscular or slow intravenous injection
- orphenadrine hydrochloride:
- initial dose 150 mg in divived doses
- maximum dose usually 400 mg daily
- procyclidine hydrochloride:
- initial dose 2.5 mg 3 times daily
- maximum dose usually 30 mg daily
- may be given by intramuscular injection in acute dystonia
Anticholinergic drugs they should not be used in patients with:
- untreated urinary retention
- closed angle glaucoma
- gastointestinal obstruction