Complete adverse effect profile including incidence rates and management
Important Safety Information
This is not a complete list of all possible side effects. Contact your healthcare provider if you experience any unexpected symptoms. For serious or life-threatening side effects, seek emergency medical attention immediately.
ADVERSE REACTIONS The adverse reactions below, most of which are antichlolinergic 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 give 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 preexisting psychotic symptoms;
nervousness;
depression;
WARNINGS Safe use in pregnancy has not been established.
Benztropine mesylate may impair mental and/or physical abilities required for performance of hazardous tasks, such as operating machinery or driving a motor vehicle.
When benztropine mesylate is given concomitantly with phenothiazines, haloperidol, or other drugs with anticholinergic or antidopaminergic activity, patients should be advised to report gastrointestinal complaints, fever or heat intolerance promptly.
Paralytic ileus, hyperthermia and heat stroke, all of which have sometimes been fatal, have occurred in patients taking anticholinergic-type antiparkinsonism drugs, including benztropine mesylate, in combination with phenothiazines and/or tricyclic antidepressants.
Since benztropine mesylate contains structural features of atropine, it may produce anhidrosis.
Like all medications, Benztropine Mesylate can cause side effects. However, not everyone who takes this medication will experience them. Many side effects are dose-dependent and may improve as your body adjusts to the medication. Others may require dose adjustment or medical attention.
Contact your healthcare provider promptly if you experience:
Seek immediate emergency medical care if you experience signs of: