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Possible drug interactions while taking Benztropine (Cogentin):health-center:"Remember, always follow your physician's recommendations on how to take your medication. Even if you are taking one of the following substances, continue taking your medication as prescribed and consult your physician. Also, if you are taking any herbal remedies, vitamins, and/or over-the-counter medications, be sure to tell your physician. The following section offers some, but not necessarily all, of the possible drug interactions. Cogentin may decrease the effects of Propulsid(cisapride), Haldol(haloperidol), and Thorazine(phenothiazines). Antihistamines may add to the dryness of the mouth and throat. MAO Inhibitors may intensify all the effects of Cogentin(benztropine). Tricyclic antidepressants may add to eye effects and further increase internal eye pressure. Symmetrel(amantadine) may cause increased confusion and possible hallucinations. Clozaril(clozapine) can increase the risk of elevate temperatures, neurological adverse effects, and bowel obstructions. Alcohol may increase the sedative effects of Cogentin. Marijuana may increase the heart rate to unacceptable levels. Avoid the combination if heart problems exist."
http://www2.health-center.com/db/PageReq?SessionID=31106601.1037318713287&TopicID=345&PageID=1364&Action=view

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Benztropine (Cogentin) warnings to be aware of:psyweb:"Antacids containing aluminum or magnesium should not be taken one hour before taking this drug and never right after. Check with your physician if you are taking central nervous system depressants like antihistamines, hay fever medicines, sedatives, narcotics, anesthetics, barbiturates or muscle relaxants. The habit-forming potential is none and long term use poses no danger. Do not take this drug if you are pregnant (Only take if the mother's or baby's live is endangered.) Do not take this drug if planning to become pregnant. Do not take if you are breast-feeding. Children may take this drug, but most be under the care of a pediatrician or children's psychiatrist. Only use drug in small doses at first if over sixty and with close monitoring. Do not use if: You had negative reactions to this drug or any other drug that treats movement disorders in the past."
http://www.psyweb.com/Drughtm/cogentin.html

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Symptoms and treatment of an overdose on Benztropine (Cogentin):mentalhealth.com:"Symptoms-May be any of those seen in atropine poisoning or antihistamine overdosage-CNS depression, preceded or followed by stimulation; confusion; nervousness; listlessness; intensification of mental symptoms or toxic psychosis in patients with psychiatric illness being treated with phenothiazine derivatives or reserpine; hallucinations (especially visual); dizziness; muscle weakness; ataxia; dry mouth; mydriasis; photophobia; tachycardia; dysuria; vomiting; giddiness; staggering; muscle weakness; rapid pulse and breathing; drowsiness; stupor; blurred vision; palpitations; nausea; vomiting; dysuria; numbness of fingers; dysphagia; allergic reactions, e.g., skin rash; headache; hot, dry, flushed skin; delirium; shock; convulsions; coma; circulatory failure; respiratory arrest; anhidrosis; hyperthermia; glaucoma; constipation. Treatment-Treatment is symptomatic and supportive. For oral overdoses, induce emesis or perform gastric lavage (contraindicated in precomatose, convulsive, or psychotic states), followed by the administration of activated charcoal. Maintain respiration. Maintain fluid and electrolyte balance. A local miotic for mydriasis and cycloplegia; ice bags or sponging with tepid water for hyperpyrexia. Because of its potential adverse effects, physostigmine salicylate is not routinely recommended for the treatment of anticholinergic toxicity"
http://www.mentalhealth.com/drug/p30-b02.html

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Who should not take Benztropine (Cogentin)?:ahealthyme:"You cannot take benztropine if you have ever had an allergic reaction to it have narrow-angle glaucoma, have an obstruction in your bowel or a complication of bowel disease known as megacolon; or have myasthenia gravis. Tell your doctor about any other medical conditions that you have, especially an enlarged prostate or difficulty urinating, epilepsy or another seizure disorder, heart disease or an irregular heartbeat; depression or any other psychiatric illness, or kidney or liver disease. You may need a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you have any of the conditions listed above. Benztropine is in the FDA pregnancy category C. This means that it is not known whether benztropine will harm an unborn baby. Do not take benztropine without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant. It is also not known whether benztropine passes into breast milk. Do not take benztropine without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby"
http://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/topic100588651

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Benztropine (Cogentin) mechanism of action:parkinsons-information-exchange-network:"Benztropine has anticholinergic, antihistaminic, and local anesthetic effects. Its anticholinergic activity is about half that of atropine; its antihistaminic activity is roughly equivalent to that of pyrilamine. Benztropine competes with acetylcholine, and perhaps other cholinergic mediators, at muscarinic receptors in the CNS and, to a lesser extent, in smooth muscle. By blocking cholinergic receptors in the CNS, benztropine reduces the excessive cholinergic activity present in parkinsonism and related states. Also, it can block dopamine reuptake and storage in CNS cells, thus prolonging dopamine's effects. In general, anticholinergic agents can help control tremor but are less effective for treating bradykinesia or rigidity"
http://www.parkinsons-information-exchange-network-online.com/drugdb/015.html

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How should you take Benztropine (Cogentin)?:healthsquare:"Take Cogentin exactly as prescribed. Unlike some of the other antiparkinsonian medications, Cogentin acts over a long period of time. It is thus particularly suitable as a bedtime medication because it lasts through the night. Taken at bedtime, it may help a person regain enough muscle control to move and roll over during sleep and to arise unaided in the morning. Cogentin causes dry mouth. Sucking on sugarless hard candy or sipping water can relieve this problem. Cogentin can reduce the ability to sweat, one of the key ways your body prevents overheating. Avoid excess sun or exercise that may cause overheating. If you miss a dose...Take it as soon as you remember. If it is within 2 hours of your next dose, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once. Storage instructions...Store away from heat, light, and moisture."
http://www.healthsquare.com/newrx/COG1090.HTM

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Benztropine (Cogentin) indications for use:medsafe:"COGENTIN is recommended for all forms of parkinsonism including arteriosclerotic, postencephalitic, idiopathic, as well as medicine-induced extrapyramidal disorders (except tardive dyskinesia). It can be effective at any stage of the disease, even when a patient has become bedridden. COGENTIN often is helpful in patients who have become unresponsive to other agents. COGENTIN is a powerful anticholinergic agent which is mainly effective in relieving tremor and rigidity. Therapy is directed toward control of disturbing symptoms to permit the patient maximum integration of function with minimum discomfort. In non-medicine-induced parkinsonism, partial control of symptoms is usually achieved"
http://www.medsafe.govt.nz/Profs/Datasheet/c/Cogentintabinj.htm

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Possible side effects of Benztropine (Cogentin):rxlist:"The adverse reactions below, most of which are anticholinergic in nature, have been reported and within each category are listed in order of decreasing severity.Cardiovascular.Tachycardia. Digestive: Paralytic ileus, constipation, vomiting, nausea, dry mouth. If dry mouth is so severe that there is difficulty in swallowing or speaking, or loss of appetite and weight, reduce dosage, or discontinue the drug temporarily. Slight reduction in dosage may control nausea and still given sufficient relief of symptoms. Vomiting may be controlled by temporary discontinuation, followed by resumption at a lower dosage. Nervous System: Toxic psychosis, including confusion, disorientation, memory impairment, visual hallucinations; exacerbation of pre-existing psychotic symptoms; nervousness; depression; listlessness: numbness of fingers."
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic2/benztrop_ad.htm

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Benztropine (Cogentin) special precautions:medlineplus:"Before taking benztropine mesylate, tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to benztropine mesylate or any other drugs. tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking, especially amantadine (Symmetrel), digoxin (Lanoxin), haloperidol (Haldol), levodopa (Larodopa, Sinemet), tranquilizers such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine) or thioridazine (Mellaril), and vitamins. tell your doctor if you have or have ever had kidney or liver disease; glaucoma; heart or blood pressure problems; myasthenia gravis; or problems with your urinary system, prostate, or stomach. tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking benztropine mesylate, call your doctor. if you are having surgery, including dental surgery, tell the doctor or dentist that you are taking benztropine mesylate. you should know that this drug may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug affects you. remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by this drug. plan to avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and to wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Benztropine mesylate may make your skin sensitive to sunlight"
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a682155.html

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Benztropine (Cogentin) dosage information:traumasurvival.org:"Benztropine mesylate should be used orally in all cases when patients are able to take oral medication. In other cases, where more rapid response is desired, benztropine mesylate may be administered i.v. or i.m. Since there is no significant difference in onset of effect after i.v. and i.m. injection, usually there is no need to give benztropine i.v. It is quickly effective after either route, with improvement sometimes noticeable a few minutes after injection. In emergency situations, 1 to 2 mg of benztropine mesylate parenterally normally will provide quick relief. If the parkinsonian effect begins to return, the dose can be repeated. Because benztropine has cumulative action, therapy should be initiated with a low dose which is increased gradually at 5 or 6 day intervals to the smallest amount necessary for optimal relief. The initial dose should be 0.5 mg daily. Increases should be made in increments of 0.5 mg to a maximum of 6 mg or until optimal results are obtained without excessive adverse effects."
http://www.traumasurvival.org/~medicaid/medicin/benztr.htm

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