Index
It is classified as an antiparkinsonian agent. It is sold in the United States under the brand name of Akineton.
Applications
Biperiden is used to treat a group of side effects (called parkinsonian side effects ) that include tremors, difficulty walking, and loose muscle tone. These side effects can occur in patients taking antipsychotic medications used to treat mental disorders such as schizophrenia.
Description
Some medications, called antipsychotics, that are used to treat schizophrenia and other mental disorders can cause side effects similar to the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
The patient does not have Parkinson’s disease, but may experience tremors in the muscles while at rest, difficulty with voluntary movements and poor muscle tone. These symptoms are similar to the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
One way to eliminate these undesirable side effects is to stop taking the antipsychotic medication. Unfortunately, the symptoms of the original mental disorder usually come back, so in most cases, simply stopping the antipsychotic medication is not a reasonable option.
Some medications such as biperiden that control the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease also control Parkinson’s side effects of antipsychotic medications.
Biperiden works by restoring the chemical balance between dopamine and acetylcholine, two neurotransmitter substances in the brain.
Taking biperiden along with the antipsychotic medication helps control the symptoms of the mental disorder, while reducing Parkinson’s side effects.
Biperiden belongs to the same family of medications (commonly known as anticholinergic drugs) such as benztropine, amantadine and trihexyphenidyl.
Recommended dose
Biperidene is available in 2 mg tablets. For the treatment of tremor, deficient muscle tone and similar parkinsonian side effects, the dose of biperiden is 2 mg orally one to three times a day.
Side effects similar to Parkinson’s disease caused by antipsychotic medications can come and go, so you may not need biperide regularly.
Biperiden may also be prescribed to prevent these side effects before they actually occur. This is called prophylactic (preventive) therapy.
Precautions
Biperidene should never be used in children under three years of age. It should be used with caution and with close medical supervision in older and older children. Biperidene, like all anticholinergic medications, decreases sweating and the body’s ability to cool.
People who are not used to being outside in hot weather should be careful to stay as cool as possible and drink extra fluids.
People who suffer from chronic diseases, have a disease of the central nervous system, or work outside during hot weather may need to avoid taking biperiden.
People who have the following medical problems may experience an increase in negative side effects when taking biperiden. Anyone with these problems should discuss their condition with their doctor before starting the medication:
- Glaucoma , especially angle-closure glaucoma.
- Intestinal obstruction.
- Prostate enlargement
- Obstruction of the urinary bladder.
Although rare, some patients experience euphoria while taking biperiden and may abuse it for this reason. Euphoria can occur in doses of two to four times the normal daily dose.
Patients with a history of drug abuse should be carefully observed for biperiden abuse.
Side effects
Although biperiden helps control the side effects of antipsychotic medications, it can produce side effects of your own. A person taking biperiden may have some of the following side effects, which may vary in intensity:
- Dry mouth.
- Dry Skin.
- Blurry vision.
- Nausea or vomiting
- Constipation .
- Disorientation.
- Drowsiness.
- Irritability.
- Incrise of cardiac frecuency.
- Urinary retention.
Dry mouth, if severe to the point of causing difficulty in speaking or swallowing, can be controlled by reducing the dose or temporarily stopping the medication.
Chewing gum without sugar or sucking sugar-free candy can also help increase the flow of saliva. Some artificial saliva products can provide temporary relief.
Men with enlarged prostate may be especially prone to urinary retention. Symptoms of this problem include difficulty starting to urinate and more difficulty urinating than usual. This side effect can be severe and require the interruption of the medication.
Urinary retention may require catheterization. People who think they may be experiencing side effects from this or another medicine should tell their doctors.
Patients who take an overdose of biperiden are treated with forced vomiting, removal of stomach contents and stomach lavage, activated charcoal and respiratory support if necessary. They also receive physostigmine, an antidote for intoxication by anticholinergic drugs.
Interactions
When taking medications such as biperiden with antidepressants such as amitriptyline, imipramine , trimipramine, desipramine, nortriptyline , protriptyline, amoxapine and doxepin, as well as many antihistamines that also have anticholinergic properties.
