Benztropine: profile and news

Risk of Serious Harm and/or Death With Potential IV/SC ... Feb 15, 2006
...pacemaker should be used. Extrapyramidal reactions may be treated with IV benztropine or diphenhydramine. Close medical supervision ... - DG News

Other information

Indication
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.

Drug Category
Antiparkinson Agents; Muscarinic Antagonists; Antidyskinetics; ATC:N04AC01

Brand Names/Synonyms
Akitan; Apo-Benztropine; Benzatropina [Inn-Spanish]; Benzatropine; Benzatropinum [Inn-Latin]; Benztropine; Benztropine Mesylate; Benztropinum; Cobrentin; Cogentin; Cogentine; Cogentinol; HSDB 3014; NK 02; NK-02; Pms Benztropine; Tropine Benzohydryl Ether

Dosage Forms
TABLET

Absorption
Not Available

Interactions
Interactions for Benztropine:

Antipsychotic drugs such as phenothiazines or haloperidol; tricyclic antidepressants.

Chemical IUPAC Name
3-benzhydryloxy-8-methyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane

Chemical Formula
C21H25NO

Half Life
Not Available

Drug Type
Approved Drug

# Accession No
APRD00748

CAS Registry Number
86-13-5