Anticholinergic withdrawal and benzhexol treatment in Parkinson's disease

• Published in: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry Vol. 36; no. 6; pp. 936 - 941
• Main Authors: Horrocks, P. M., Vicary, D. J., Rees, J. E., Parkes, J. D., Marsden, C. D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.12.1973; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Dihydroxyphenylalanine - therapeutic use; Disability Evaluation; Drug Synergism; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Parasympatholytics - adverse effects; Parasympatholytics - therapeutic use; Parkinson Disease - drug therapy; Placebos; Trihexyphenidyl - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 0022-3050; 1468-330X
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.36.6.936

The effects of slow withdrawal of anticholinergic medication and addition of benzhexol (8 mg/day) have been studied in patients with Parkinson's disease on stable levodopa therapy. Withdrawal of anticholinergic drugs led to measurable and often severe deterioration in about two-thirds of patients. Addition of benzhexol produced a slight but definite additional improvement in those patients in whom anticholinergics were withdrawn before the trial. Anticholinergic drugs thus still have a part to play in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, for they produce benefit in addition to that provided by levodopa.