Benztropine

Benztropine are used for:

Treatment of Parkinson disease with other medicines. It is also used to control tremors and stiffness of the muscles due to certain antipsychotic medicines (eg, phenothiazines).

Benztropine are an anticholinergic. It works by decreasing the effects of acetylcholine, a chemical in the brain, resulting in decreased tremors or muscle stiffness.

Do NOT use Benztropine if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in Benztropine
• you have angle-closure glaucoma, bleeding problems, esophageal achalasia, myasthenia gravis, intestinal or urinary blockage, or ulcerative colitis

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Benztropine:

Some medical conditions may interact with Benztropine. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription medicine, nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines or other substances
• if you have an enlarged prostate, irregular heartbeat, open-angle glaucoma, a predisposition to angle-closure glaucoma, tardive dyskinesia, or urinary retention

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Benztropine. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Phenothiazines (eg, chlorpromazine) or tricyclic antidepressants (eg, amitriptyline) because serious, sometimes fatal side effects may occur, including paralysis of the intestines, increased body heat, or heat stroke

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Benztropine may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Benztropine:

Use Benztropine as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

• Take Benztropine by mouth with food or after finishing meals.
• Benztropine are best taken at bedtime. However, it is sometimes given in 2 to 4 daily doses.
• If you miss a dose of Benztropine, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Benztropine.

Important safety information:

• Benztropine may cause blurred vision. This effect may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Benztropine with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Benztropine may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting; alcohol, hot weather, exercise, or fever may increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Sit or lie down at the first sign of any of these effects.
• Benztropine can reduce the ability to sweat and cause the body to overheat. Do not become overheated in hot weather or while you are being active; heatstroke may occur.
• Lab tests, including liver function, kidney function, lung function, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, and blood cholesterol, may be performed while you use Benztropine. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Benztropine should not be used in CHILDREN younger than 3 years old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Benztropine while you are pregnant. It is not known if Benztropine are found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Benztropine, check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.

Possible side effects of Benztropine:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include convulsions; dilated pupils; fast breathing; fast heartbeat; hot, dry, flushed skin; foul-smelling breath; hyperactivity; seizures.

Store Benztropine at room temperature, between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C). Brief storage at temperatures between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C) is permitted. Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Do not store in the bathroom. Keep Benztropine out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

• If you have any questions about Benztropine, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
• Benztropine are to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
• If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Benztropine. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.