Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 29, 2022.
Commonly used brand name(s)
In the U.S.
- Cogentin
Available Dosage Forms:
- Solution
Therapeutic Class: Antiparkinsonian
Pharmacologic Class: Anticholinergic
Uses for benztropine
Benztropine injection is used with other medicines to treat Parkinson's disease. By improving muscle control and reducing stiffness, benztropine 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®).
Benztropine is available only with your doctor's prescription.
Before using benztropine
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For benztropine, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to benztropine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Because of benztropine's toxicity, it should be used with caution in children 3 years of age or older. It is not recommended for use in children below 3 years of age.
Geriatric
No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of benztropine injection in geriatric patients.
Breastfeeding
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Interactions with medicines
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be ...
