Benztropine Mesylate (By mouth)
BENZ-troe-peen
Treats symptoms of Parkinson‘s disease or side effects of other drugs.
Drug classes
Antiparkinsonian (About this – PubMed Health)
Uses
Uses of This Medicine
Benztropine 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
Tablet, Liquid
Your doctor will tell you how much to take and how often.
Benztropine may be taken with or without food.
Measure the oral liquid medicine with a marked measuring spoon, oral syringe, or medicine cup.
If a dose is missed:
Take the missed dose as soon as possible.
If it is almost time for your next usual dose, wait until then to take your medicine and skip the missed dose.
You should not use two doses at the same time.
How to Store and Dispose of This Medicine:
Store at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Keep all medicine out of the reach of children
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medicine.
Make sure your doctor knows if you are taking other medicines that make you sleepy such as sleeping pills, cold and allergy medicines, medicine for depression, tranquilizers, or narcotic pain killers.
When Not To Use
You should not use this medicine if you have had an allergic reaction to benztropine. This medicine should not be taken by children under the age of three.
Warnings
Talk with your doctor before taking this medicine if you have glaucoma, bowel or stomach problems, enlarged prostate, fast or irregular heartbeat, or other medical problems.
This medicine may make you drowsy. Be careful while driving, using machinery, or doing dangerous jobs.
This medicine may make you sweat less and cause your body to get too hot. Be careful in hot weather, while you are exercising, or if using a sauna or whirlpool.
Tell your doctor if this medicine causes muscle weakness. If your neck muscles are stiff and suddenly become weak, your doctor may need to lower the dose you are taking.
Possible side effects
Summary More details
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
Confusion or excitement
Seeing or hearing unusual things
Fast or irregular heartbeat
Severe eye pain
Severe constipation or stomach pain
Unexplained high fever
If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
Dry mouth
Trouble urinating
Blurred vision
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.
