Am J Psychiatry 1976; 133:940-943
Copyright © 1976 by American Psychiatric Association
Amantadine versus trihexyphenidyl in the treatment of neuroleptic- induced parkinsonism
WE Fann and CR Lake
Amantadine is a putative dopaminergic compound known to be therapeutically
effective in idiopathic and postencephalitic Parkinson's disease. In a
double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study of 39 psychiatric
inpatients, amantadine and trihexyphenidyl were equally effective in
treating drug-induced parkinsonism, and amantadine produced fewer and less
severe side effects. The authors suggest that amantadine is an effective
alternative to atropine-like agents, with fewer implications for long-term
risk of tardive dyskinesia.
