Artane

Generic name: Trihexyphenidyl
Drug class: Anticholinergic antiparkinson agents

Usage of Artane

Trihexyphenidyl is used alone or together with other medicines (e.g., levodopa) 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.

Trihexyphenidyl is also used to control severe muscle reactions and other side effects from certain medicines that are used to treat severe nausea or nervous, mental, or emotional conditions (e.g., haloperidol [Haldol®], loxapine [Loxitane®], prochlorperazine [Compazine®], promethazine [Phenergan®], thiothixene [Navane®]).

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Artane side effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Rare

Abdominal or stomach cramps or pain

bloating

constipation

delusions of persecution, mistrust, suspiciousness, or combativeness

excessive dryness of the mouth

false beliefs that cannot be changed by facts

loss of appetite

nausea or vomiting

seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there

skin rash

stomach pain

swollen, painful, or tender lymph glands on the side of the face or neck

Incidence not known

Anxiety

blurred vision

change in vision

decrease in frequency of urination

decrease in urine volume

difficult urination

difficulty in passing urine (dribbling)

disturbed behavior

dry mouth

enlarged pupils

eye pain

fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse

hyperventilation

irritability

loss of vision

mental confusion

nervousness

painful urination

restlessness

shaking

shortness of breath

trouble sleeping

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

More common

Dizziness

mild nausea

nervousness

Incidence not known

Drowsiness

weakness

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Artane

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 this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine 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

No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of trihexyphenidyl in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of trihexyphenidyl in geriatric patients. However, elderly men are more likely to have age-related prostate problems, and all elderly patients are more likely to have age-related kidney, liver, or heart problems. These conditions may require caution or an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving trihexyphenidyl.

Breast Feeding

Studies suggest that this medication may alter milk production or composition. If an alternative to this medication is not prescribed, you should monitor the infant for side effects and adequate milk intake.

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 necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

Potassium Citrate

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Amantadine

Buprenorphine

Clozapine

Codeine

Glucagon

Glycopyrrolate

Glycopyrronium Tosylate

Methacholine

Metoclopramide

Oxycodone

Quetiapine

Revefenacin

Scopolamine

Secretin Human

Tapentadol

Tiotropium

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

Betel Nut

Chlorpromazine

Haloperidol

Perphenazine

Interactions with Food/Tobacco/Alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Relate drugs

How to use Artane

Take this medicine every day exactly as ordered by your doctor in order to improve your condition as much as possible. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

You may take this medicine before or after food, although it is usually taken with meals.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

For oral dosage form (elixir or tablets):

For Parkinson's disease:

Adults—At first, 1 milligram (mg) once a day. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 15 mg per day, given in divided doses 3 or 4 times per day.

Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

For side effects caused by other medicines:

Adults—5 to 15 milligrams (mg) per day, given in divided doses 3 or 4 times per day.

Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Warnings

It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to allow changes in your dose and to check for any unwanted effects.

Before using this medicine, your doctor may want you to have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist (eye doctor). Trihexyphenidyl may increase your risk of having glaucoma. Check with your doctor right away if you have blurred vision or any change in vision while taking this medicine.

Trihexyphenidyl may cause dryness of the mouth, nose, and throat. For temporary relief of mouth dryness, use sugarless candy or gum, melt bits of ice in your mouth, or use a saliva substitute. However, if your mouth continues to feel dry for more than 2 weeks, check with your medical doctor or dentist. Continuing dryness of the mouth may increase the chance of dental disease, including tooth decay, gum disease, and fungus infections.

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.