Therapeutic action
- Anticholinergic antiparkinson drug
Indications
- First-line treatment of extrapyramidal reactions induced by antipsychotics
Forms and strengths
Dosage
- Adult: 2 mg once daily, then increase if necessary up to 2 mg 2 to 3 times daily (max. 12 mg daily)
- Administer at the lowest effective dose in elderly patients and do not exceed 10 mg daily.
Duration
- As long as the antipsychotic treatment lasts.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Do not administer to patients with closed-angle glaucoma, prostate disorders, gastrointestinal obstruction or atony.
- Administer with caution and carefully monitor use in elderly patients (risk of confusion, hallucinations).
- May cause: anticholinergic effects (dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, tachycardia, disorders of micturition), confusion, hallucinations, memory impairment.
- Avoid or monitor combination with other drugs known to have anticholinergic effects(atropine, amitriptyline, chlorpromazine, promethazine, etc.).
- Pregnancy: re-evaluate whether the antipsychotic treatment is still necessary; if treatment is
- continued, administer biperiden at the lowest effective dose and observe the child if the mother was under treatment in the 3rd trimester (risk of anticholinergic effect, e.g. tremors, abdominal distension).
- Breast-feeding: if treatment is necessary, administer at the lowest effective dose and observe the child (risk of anticholinergic effects, e.g. tachycardia, constipation, thickening of bronchial secretions).
Remarks
Also comes in 4 mg extended-release tablet, administered once daily. Biperiden is also used in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.
Storage
- Below 25 °C