Raffolutil

Raffolutil may be available in the countries listed below.

Ingredient matches for Raffolutil

Bicalutamide

Bicalutamide is reported as an ingredient of Raffolutil in the following countries:

• Argentina

International Drug Name Search

Tricoline

Tricoline may be available in the countries listed below.

Ingredient matches for Tricoline

Tretoquinol

Tretoquinol is reported as an ingredient of Tricoline in the following countries:

• Taiwan

International Drug Name Search

Cefaclor acis

Cefaclor acis may be available in the countries listed below.

Ingredient matches for Cefaclor acis

Cefaclor

Cefaclor monohydrate (a derivative of Cefaclor) is reported as an ingredient of Cefaclor acis in the following countries:

• Germany

International Drug Name Search

Calcioral

Calcioral may be available in the countries listed below.

Ingredient matches for Calcioral

Calcium Carbonate

Calcium Carbonate is reported as an ingredient of Calcioral in the following countries:

• Greece


• Portugal

International Drug Name Search

Werfachor

Werfachor may be available in the countries listed below.

In some countries, this medicine may only be approved for veterinary use.

Ingredient matches for Werfachor

Chorionic Gonadotrophin

Chorionic Gonadotrophin is reported as an ingredient of Werfachor in the following countries:

• Austria

International Drug Name Search

Cefonicid Rubio

Cefonicid Rubio may be available in the countries listed below.

Ingredient matches for Cefonicid Rubio

Cefonicid

Cefonicid sodium salt (a derivative of Cefonicid) is reported as an ingredient of Cefonicid Rubio in the following countries:

• Spain

International Drug Name Search

benztropine

Generic Name: benztropine (BENZ troe peen)

Brand Names: Cogentin

What is benztropine?

Benztropine reduces the effects of certain chemicals in the body that may become unbalanced as a result of disease (such as Parkinson's), drug therapy, or other causes.

Benztropine is used to treat the symptoms of Parkinson's disease, such as muscle spasms, stiffness, tremors, sweating, drooling, and poor muscle control.

Benztropine is also used to treat and prevent these symptoms when they are caused by drugs such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin), perphenazine (Trilafon), and others.

Benztropine may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What is the most important information I should know about benztropine?

You should not take this medication if you are allergic to benztropine, or if you are also taking a medication called pramlintide (Symlin).

Before you take benztropine, tell if you have glaucoma, kidney or liver disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, a history of heart attack or stroke, a breathing disorder, a nerve or muscle disorder, seizures, urination problems, overactive thyroid, mental illness, or a stomach or intestinal disorder.

Avoid taking a diarrhea medication or antacid within 2 hours before or after you take benztropine. Also avoid taking ketoconazole (Nizoral) within 2 hours after you take benztropine.

Benztropine may cause blurred vision or impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert and able to see clearly.

Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Benztropine can decrease perspiration and you may be more prone to heat stroke.

Do not stop taking this medication without first talking to your doctor. Stopping suddenly may make your condition worse. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking benztropine?

You should not take this medication if you are allergic to benztropine, or if you are also taking a medication called pramlintide (Symlin).

To make sure you can safely take benztropine, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• 
  

  glaucoma;

  
  


• 
  

  heart disease, a heart rhythm disorder, history of heart attack;

  
  


• 
  

  high or low blood pressure;

  
  


• 
  

  asthma, emphysema, or other breathing disorder;

  
  


• kidney or liver disease;


• 
  

  a nerve disorder;

  
  


• 
  

  a muscle disorder such as myasthenia gravis;

  
  


• 
  

  seizures;

  
  


• 
  

  enlarged prostate, urination problems;

  
  


• 
  

  overactive thyroid;

  
  


• 
  

  mental illness or dementia;

  
  


• 
  

  stomach ulcer, reflux disease, hiatal hernia; or

  
  


• 
  

  ulcerative colitis, history of bowel obstruction, or other intestinal disorder.

  
  

It is not known whether benztropine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using this medication. It is not known whether benztropine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby. Benztropine should not be given to a child younger than 3 years old.

How should I take benztropine?

Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Drink plenty of liquids while you are taking benztropine.

Benztropine is sometimes given up to 4 times daily, at meals and at bedtime. If you take benztropine only once per day, it may be best to take the medication at bedtime. Follow your doctor's instructions.

Benztropine can be taken with food to lessen stomach upset.

Your mouth may feel dry while taking benztropine. To prevent or relieve dry mouth, suck on a piece of sugar-free hard candy, chew sugar-free gum, drink water, chew on ice chips, or use a saliva substitute.

Dry mouth may lead to gum disease or cavities. Brush and floss your teeth regularly and see a dentist for routine check-ups while you are taking benztropine.

It may take up to 3 days before your symptoms improve. Keep using the medication as directed and tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse. Do not stop taking this medication without first talking to your doctor. Stopping suddenly may make your condition worse. You may need to use less and less before you stop the medication completely. Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.

See also: Benztropine dosage (in more detail)

What happens if I miss a dose?

Since benztropine is sometimes taken only when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are taking the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose can cause confusion, severe dizziness, hallucinations, loss of balance or coordination, vomiting, heavy sweating, hot and dry skin, numbness, urinating less than usual, dilated pupils, fast or pounding heartbeats, muscle weakness, weak or shallow breathing, buzzing in your ears, seizures, and fainting.

What should I avoid while taking benztropine?

Avoid taking a diarrhea medication (such as Kaopectate, Donnagel, or Rheaban) or an antacid (such as Amphojel, Maalox, Mylanta, Rolaids, Rulox, or Tums) within 2 hours before or after you take benztropine. These medications can make it harder for your body to absorb benztropine, which can make it less effective.

Also avoid taking ketoconazole (Nizoral) within 2 hours after you take benztropine. Benztropine can make it harder for your body to absorb ketoconazole.

Benztropine may cause blurred vision or impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert and able to see clearly.

Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of benztropine. Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Benztropine can decrease perspiration and you may be more prone to heat stroke.

Benztropine side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• 
  

  pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;

  
  


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  feeling very weak;

  
  


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  feeling too weak to move;

  
  


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  confusion, hallucinations, unusual thoughts or behavior;

  
  


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  urinating less than usual or not at all;

  
  


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  severe constipation;

  
  


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  dry mouth that interferes with speech, swallowing, appetite, or eating;

  
  


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  feeling very thirsty or hot, being unable to urinate, heavy sweating, or hot and dry skin;

  
  


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  blurred vision, eye pain, or seeing halos around lights; or

  
  


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  twitching or uncontrollable movements of your eyes, lips, tongue, face, arms, or legs.

  
  

Less serious side effects may include:

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  depressed mood, memory problems;

  
  


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  drowsiness, feeling nervous or excited;

  
  


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  nausea, upset stomach;

  
  


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  dry mouth (mild);

  
  


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  double vision, increased sensitivity to light; or

  
  


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  numbness in your fingers;

  
  

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Benztropine Dosing Information

Usual Adult Dose for Extrapyramidal Reaction:

Acute dystonic reaction:
Initial: 1 to 2 mg administered IM or IV one time usually relieves the acute condition.

Maintenance: 1 to 2 mg orally administered once or twice a day as needed until the source of the dystonia (e.g., phenothiazine or other drug) has been removed. Once the offending agent has been discontinued, benztropine therapy should be continued for 24 to 72 hours, then ceased.

Usual Adult Dose for Parkinson's Disease:

Initial: 0.5 to 2 mg administered orally, IM, or IV, once a day.

Idiopathic parkinsonism: start with a dose of 0.5 to 1 mg orally once daily at bedtime.

postencephalitic parkinsonism: most patients require larger doses. It may be appropriate to initiate therapy at 1 to 2 mg orally once daily at bedtime.

Maintenance: titration up from the initial dose should occur gradually by raising the dose in 0.5 mg increments every 5 to 6 days, up to 6 mg/day, until optimal relief is obtained.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Extrapyramidal Reaction:

0 to 3 years: use of benztropine in this patient population should be restricted to life-threatening emergencies.

> 3 years: 0.02 to 0.05 mg/kg administered orally, IM, or IV 1 to 2 times a day.

What other drugs will affect benztropine?

Before using benztropine, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by benztropine.

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:

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  amantadine (Symmetrel);

  
  


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  glycopyrrolate (Robinul);

  
  


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  mepenzolate (Cantil);

  
  


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  a diuretic (water pill);

  
  


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  potassium supplements (K-Lyte, K-Dur, Klor-Con, and others);

  
  


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  an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Vanatrip, Limbitrol), doxepin (Sinequan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and others;

  
  


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  atropine (Atreza, Sal-Tropine), belladonna (Donnatal, and others), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), meclizine (Antivert), methscopolamine (Pamine), or scopolamine (Transderm-Scop);

  
  


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  bladder or urinary medications such as darifenacin (Enablex), flavoxate (Urispas), oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol), tolterodine (Detrol), or solifenacin (Vesicare);

  
  


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  bronchodilators such as ipratropium (Atrovent) or tiotropium (Spiriva);

  
  


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  irritable bowel medications such as dicyclomine (Bentyl), hyoscyamine (Anaspaz, Cystospaz, Levsin, and others), or propantheline (Pro-Banthine);

  
  


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  medicine to treat Alzheimer's dementia, such as donepezil (Aricept) or galantamine (Razadyne); or

  
  


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  medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Permitil, Prolixin), haloperidol (Haldol); perphenazine (Trilafon), prochlorperazine (Compazine, Compro), promethazine (Pentazine, Phenergan, Anergan, Antinaus), thioridazine (Mellaril), or trifluoperazine (Stelazine).

  
  

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with benztropine. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

More benztropine resources

• Benztropine Side Effects (in more detail)
• Benztropine Dosage
• Benztropine Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
• Drug Images
• Benztropine Drug Interactions
• Benztropine Support Group
• 3 Reviews for Benztropine - Add your own review/rating

• benztropine Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information


• Benztropine MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)


• Benztropine Prescribing Information (FDA)


• Benztropine Mesylate Monograph (AHFS DI)


• Cogentin Prescribing Information (FDA)

Compare benztropine with other medications

• Extrapyramidal Reaction
• Parkinson's Disease

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about benztropine.

See also: benztropine side effects (in more detail)