Benztropine (By injection)
BENZ-troe-peen
Treats symptoms of Parkinson disease or side effects of other drugs.
Drug classes
Antiparkinsonian (About this – PubMed Health)
Uses
Uses of This Medicine
Benztropine injection is used with other medicines to treat Parkinson’s disease. By improving muscle control and reducing stiffness, this medicine allows more normal movements of the body as the disease symptoms are reduced. It is also used to control severe reactions to certain medicines that are used to treat nervous, mental, and emotional conditions (e.g., phenothiazine medicine such as prochlorperazine, Compazine®, Mellaril®, Phenergan®, Thorazine®, Trilafon®).
This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.
Other uses (PubMed Health)
How To Use
Injectable
A nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine. Your doctor will prescribe your exact dose, and tell you how often it will be given. This medicine is given as a shot into one of your muscles, or into a vein.
Missed dose: Call your doctor, pharmacist, or home caregiver for instructions.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Some foods and medicines may affect how benztropine works. Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following:
Haloperidol A phenothiazine medicine, such as prochlorperazine, chlorpromazine, perphenazine, promethazine, thioridazine A tricyclic antidepressant medicine, such as amitriptyline, doxepin, nortriptylineDo not drink alcohol while you are using this medicine.
When Not To Use
This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not receive it if you had an allergic reaction to benztropine.
Warnings
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have glaucoma, bowel or stomach problems, an enlarged prostate, heart disease, or heart rhythm problems. Tell your doctor if you have a history of mental problems, or if you have a disease that affects your nervous system. Tell your doctor if you have jerky muscle movements caused by another medicine.
This medicine may keep you from sweating enough, which may cause your body to get too hot. Be careful in hot weather, and while you exercise or use a sauna or whirlpool.
This medicine may make you drowsy or cause you to have trouble thinking clearly. Do not drive or do anything that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.
Tell your doctor if your neck muscles become stiff and suddenly weak. Your doctor may need to lower the dose you are taking.
Your doctor will check your progress and the effects of this medicine at regular visits. Keep all appointments.
Possible side effects
Summary More details
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
Confusion or extreme behavior changes
Fast or uneven heartbeat
Jerky muscle movements you cannot control (often in your face, tongue, or jaw)
Seeing or hearing things that are not real
Severe constipation, or pain in your abdomen
Severe dry mouth that causes trouble swallowing or speaking, loss of appetite, or weight loss
Unable to sweat, or feeling overheated
If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
Blurred vision
Trouble urinating
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
More side effects of this drug
Brand names include
Cogentin
There may be other brand names for this medicine.