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What happens if I miss a dose (Cogentin)?

Since benztropine is sometimes taken only when needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are taking the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose (Cogentin)?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

Overdose can cause confusion, severe dizziness, hallucinations, loss of balance or coordination, vomiting, heavy sweating, hot and dry skin, numbness, urinating less than usual, dilated pupils, fast or pounding heartbeats, muscle weakness, weak or shallow breathing, buzzing in your ears, seizures, and fainting.

What should I avoid while taking benztropine (Cogentin)?

Avoid taking a diarrhea medication (such as Kaopectate, Donnagel, or Rheaban) or an antacid (such as Amphojel, Maalox, Mylanta, Rolaids, Rulox, or Tums) within 2 hours before or after you take benztropine. These medications can make it harder for your body to absorb benztropine, which can make it less effective.

Also avoid taking ketoconazole (Nizoral) within 2 hours after you take benztropine. Benztropine can make it harder for your body to absorb ketoconazole.

Benztropine may cause blurred vision or impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert and able to see clearly.

Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of benztropine.

Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Benztropine can decrease perspiration and you may be more prone to heat stroke.

What other drugs will affect benztropine (Cogentin)?

Before using benztropine, tell your doctor if you regularly use other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety). They can add to sleepiness caused by benztropine.

Tell your doctor about all other medications you use, especially:

• amantadine (Symmetrel);
• glycopyrrolate (Robinul);
• mepenzolate (Cantil);
• a diuretic (water pill);
• potassium supplements (K-Lyte, K-Dur, Klor-Con, and others);
• an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Vanatrip, Limbitrol), doxepin (Sinequan), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and others;
• atropine (Atreza, Sal-Tropine), belladonna (Donnatal, and others), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), meclizine (Antivert), methscopolamine (Pamine), or scopolamine (Transderm-Scop);
• bladder or urinary medications such as darifenacin (Enablex), flavoxate (Urispas), oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol), tolterodine (Detrol), or solifenacin (Vesicare);
• bronchodilators such as ipratropium (Atrovent) or tiotropium (Spiriva);
• irritable bowel medications such as dicyclomine (Bentyl), hyoscyamine (Anaspaz, Cystospaz, Levsin, and others), or propantheline (Pro-Banthine);
• medicine to treat Alzheimer's dementia, such as donepezil (Aricept) or galantamine (Razadyne); or
• medicines to treat psychiatric disorders, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Permitil, Prolixin), haloperidol (Haldol); perphenazine (Trilafon), prochlorperazine (Compazine, Compro), promethazine (Pentazine, Phenergan, Anergan, Antinaus), thioridazine (Mellaril), or trifluoperazine (Stelazine).

This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with benztropine. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about benztropine.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

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