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Trihexyphenidyl Coupon - Trihexyphenidyl 2mg tablet

trihexyphenidyl

Generic Artane
Used for Parkinson's Disease
Used for Parkinson's Disease

Trihexyphenidyl is an anticholinergic medication that blocks acetylcholine, a chemical that affects movement. It's used to help with tremors in adults with Parkinson's disease (PD). It can also ease movement-related side effects caused by other medications. Trihexyphenidyl is taken by mouth, sometimes multiple times a day. It's available as tablets and an oral liquid. Common side effects of this medication include dry mouth, blurry vision, dizziness, and nausea. The brand name Artane has been discontinued, so trihexyphenidyl is generic only.

Reviewed by:
reviewer
Hope Chang, PharmD, AAHIVP
reviewer
Kristianne Hannemann, PharmD
Last reviewed on December 20, 2023
BasicsSide effectsPros & consPharmacist tipsFAQsWarningsDosageCostContraindicationsAlternativesImagesReferencesPricesMedicare
basics-icon

What is Trihexyphenidyl?

What is Trihexyphenidyl used for?

How Trihexyphenidyl works

Trihexyphenidyl is an anticholinergic medication. It works by blocking acetylcholine, a chemical that affects different functions in the body, including movement. In doing so, trihexyphenidyl relaxes your muscles to prevent muscle spasms and tremors.

Drug Facts

Common BrandsArtane (brand name no longer available)
Drug ClassAnticholinergic
Controlled Substance ClassificationNot a controlled medication
Generic StatusLower-cost generic available
AvailabilityPrescription only
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What are the side effects of Trihexyphenidyl?

The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.

Common Side Effects

  • Dry mouth
  • Blurry vision
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Nervousness

Other Side Effects

  • Gut blockage
  • Hallucination (seeing things that aren't there)
  • Erratic behavior
  • Memory problems
  • Constipation
  • Headache

Serious Side Effects

Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
  • Neuroleptic malignant syndrome: stiff muscles, sweating, fever, fast heartbeat, irregular pulse

Source: DailyMed

The following side effects have also been reported

Side effects that you should report to your care team as soon as possible:

  • Allergic reactions—skin rash, itching, hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
  • Fever that does not go away, decreased sweating
  • Sudden eye pain or change in vision such as blurry vision, seeing halos around lights, vision loss

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your care team if they continue or are bothersome):

pros-and-cons

Pros and cons of Trihexyphenidyl

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Pros

Taken by mouth

Available as an oral solution for people who've a hard time swallowing tablets

Available as a lower-cost generic

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Cons

Might need to take multiple times a day

Can cause more side effects in older adults

Suddenly stopping the medication can lead withdrawal symptoms

pharmacist-tips

Pharmacist tips for Trihexyphenidyl

pharmacist

  • Make sure you follow the dosing instructions, especially when you first start trihexyphenidyl. Your provider will start you on a lower dose to allow your body to adjust to the medication.

    • If you're taking high doses of trihexyphenidyl, your provider might recommend splitting your dose into four doses. If this is the case, take three doses with meals and the fourth one before bedtime.

      • Trihexyphenidyl can cause you to feel dizzy and affect your ability to concentrate. Don't drive until you know how this medication affects you.

        • Taking trihexyphenidyl before meals can help with the dry mouth symptoms and stomach side effects. In addition to drinking water, sucking on hard candies or chewing gum can help relieve dry mouth as well.

          • Don't stop taking trihexyphenidyl unless instructed by your provider. Suddenly stopping the medication can lead to withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety and worsening movement problems.

            • If you're taking the oral solution, store it at room temperature; don't freeze it. Make sure to use the measuring device that comes with the medication to measure your doses. Don't use kitchen or measuring spoons, since they might not be accurate.

              faqs

              Frequently asked questions about Trihexyphenidyl

              How long does trihexyphenidyl stay in your system?
              After you stop taking trihexyphenidyl, it can take about 1 to 2 days for most of the medication to leave your body. But some studies suggest it might stay in your system for up to about a week. This is based on the medication's half-life. Keep in mind that in order for trihexyphenidyl to work well to treat your condition, you need to take it as directed by your provider (typically once or multiple times a day).
              How long does trihexyphenidyl take to work?
              Trihexyphenidyl can start to work in about 1 hour to help with movement problems. However, it might take 2-3 hours to see the full effect.
              How long can I take trihexyphenidyl?
              Ask your provider how long you need to take trihexyphenidyl. Typically, your provider will prescribe trihexyphenidyl as long as it's helping your symptoms and you're not experiencing any serious side effects, such as hallucinations or confusion.
              How do I stop taking trihexyphenidyl?
              Don't suddenly stop taking trihexyphenidyl without talking with your provider. Doing so can lead to withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety, fast heart beat, and worsening of movement problems. And in rare cases, people have also reported a serious condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). NMS requires medical treatment, as your muscles will become rigid and start to break down. You might also lose the ability to move on your own and speak. If you need to stop taking trihexyphenidyl, your provider will likely need to lower your dose slowly over time.
              Is trihexyphenidyl a controlled substance?
              No, trihexyphenidyl isn't a controlled substance.
              Is trihexyphenidyl a benzodiazepine?
              No. Trihexyphenidyl isn't a benzodiazepine. It belongs to a group of medications called anticholinergics.
              Can trihexyphenidyl cause insomnia?
              More information is needed to understand the effect of trihexyphenidyl on sleep. In general, people who take trihexyphenidyl report dizziness and drowsiness as some of the more common side effects of this medication. On the other hand, people who take higher doses of trihexyphenidyl are more likely to experience agitation and anxiety, which might make it more difficult to sleep. Talk with your provider if you've noticed changes in your sleeping patterns after starting trihexyphenidyl.
              Can you drink alcohol with trihexyphenidyl?
              It's best to avoid alcohol while taking trihexyphenidyl. Drinking alcohol can worsen side effects of trihexyphenidyl, like drowsiness and dehydration (low fluids in the body). Doing so can also worsen your condition, leading to poorer coordination and other movement problems.
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              What are the risks and warnings for Trihexyphenidyl?

              Trihexyphenidyl can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.

              risk-warning

              Vision changes

              • Risk factors: Narrow-angle glaucoma

                Trihexyphenidyl can raise your eye pressure and shouldn't be used if you have narrow-angle glaucoma. Use of trihexyphenidyl can lead to blindness in people with narrow-angle glaucoma. Let your provider know if you start to have blurry vision.

                risk-warning

                Heat stroke

                • Risk factors: Not drinking enough water | Hot weather | Drinking alcohol regularly

                  Trihexyphenidyl makes it harder for your body to sweat and cool itself down. This can put you at risk for heat stroke, especially if you're doing manual labor outdoors when it's hot. Make sure you stay hydrated and out of the sun, especially if it's really hot out.

                  risk-warning

                  Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS)

                  Suddenly stopping or lowering the dose of trihexyphenidyl too quickly can cause a condition called neuroleptic malignant syndrome (NMS). NMS can be very dangerous. Symptoms include very stiff muscles, sweating, fever, fast heartbeat, and an irregular pulse. Seek medical help right away if this happens to you.

                  risk-warning

                  Use in older adults

                  • Risk factors: High blood pressure | Heart, liver, or kidney problems

                    Anticholinergic medications, like trihexyphenidyl, can cause many side effects. Older adults are usually more sensitive to these effects. These side effects, such as blurry vision and dizziness, can raise the risk of serious falls. Make sure you continue to follow up with your provider so they can monitor you for long-term effects of the medication. Let them know if you start to have worsening side effects, especially if you've been taking the same dose for a while.

                    dosage

                    Trihexyphenidyl dosage forms

                    The average cost for 60 tablets of 2mg of Trihexyphenidyl is $4.00 with a free GoodRx coupon. This is 73.34% off the average retail price of $15.00.
                    ml of oral solution
                    Ml of oral solution
                    DosageQuantityPrice as low asPrice per unit
                    2mg/5ml473 ml$25.61$0.05
                    tablet
                    Tablet
                    DosageQuantityPrice as low asPrice per unit
                    2mg60 tablets$4.00$0.07
                    5mg60 tablets$9.00$0.15

                    Typical dosing for Trihexyphenidyl

                    The recommended dosage for trihexyphenidyl tablets and trihexyphenidyl 2 mg/5 mL oral solution are the same.

                    • Parkinson's disease: The typical starting dose is 1 mg by mouth taken on day 1. Your provider will raise your dose every few days to the target dose of 6 mg to 15 mg by mouth per day. The dose can be split up into 3 doses taken with meals.

                    • Movement problems: The daily dose ranges from 5 mg to 15 mg by mouth per day.

                    Your provider might adjust your dose depending on what other medications you're taking and your response to the medication.

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                    Trihexyphenidyl (generic)
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                    contraindications-icon

                    Trihexyphenidyl contraindications

                    Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Trihexyphenidyl will not be safe for you to take.
                    alternatives

                    What are alternatives to Trihexyphenidyl?

                    There are a number of medications that your doctor can prescribe in place of Trihexyphenidyl. Compare a few possible alternatives below.
                    Trihexyphenidyl
                    Used for:
                    $4.00 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                    Sinemet (carbidopa / levodopa)
                    Used for:

                    • Parkinson's disease (PD)

                    • Parkinsonism (conditions that cause people to have signs and symptoms of PD, including slowness, stiffness, shakiness, and imbalance)

                    $9.00 Lowest GoodRx priceView Prices
                    Benztropine
                    Used for:

                    • Parkinson's disease (add-on medication)

                    • Movement problems (extrapyramidal symptoms, or EPS) caused by antipsychotic medications

                    View Prices
                    images

                    Trihexyphenidyl images

                    White Round Dan Dan And 5335 - Trihexyphenidyl Hydrochloride 2mg Tablet
                    This medicine is White, Round, Scored Tablet Imprinted With "Dan Dan" And "5335".White Round Dan Dan And 5335 - Trihexyphenidyl Hydrochloride 2mg Tablet
                    White Round 2 And N T - Trihexyphenidyl Hydrochloride 2mg Tablet
                    This medicine is White, Round, Scored Tablet Imprinted With "N T" And "2".White Round 2 And N T - Trihexyphenidyl Hydrochloride 2mg Tablet

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                    References

                    Best studies we found

                    Akorn. (2022). Trihexyphenidyl hydrochloride syrup [package insert]. DailyMed.

                    D’Souza, R. S., et al. (2023). Extrapyramidal symptoms. StatPearls.

                    Halli-Tierney, A. D., et al. (2020). Parkinson disease. American Family Physician.

                    View All References (5)

                    Jilani, T. N., et al. (2023). Trihexyphenidyl. StatPearls.

                    López-Álvarez, J., et al. (2019). Anticholinergic drugs in geriatric psychopharmacology. Frontiers in Neuroscience.

                    McInnis, M., et al. (1985). Withdrawal of trihexyphenidyl. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica.

                    Novitium Pharma LLC. (2019). Trihexyphenidyl hydrochloride - trihexyphenidyl hydrochloride tablet [package insert]. DailyMed.

                    PAI Holdings, LLC. (2023). Trihexyphenidyl hydrochloride solution [package insert]. DailyMed.

                    GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.
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