Anticholinergic effects in a depressed parkinsonian patient. 1995

J J Huszonek
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, S.U.N.Y. Health Science Center at Syracuse 13210, USA.

Depression is commonly associated with idiopathic Parkinson's disease. Various antidepressants can be helpful in the treatment of this type of depression. Anticholinergic medications are at times used for treating the motor symptoms of parkinsonism. While some authors have reported euphorigenic effects from anticholinergics in other groups of patients, generally, they have not been used in the treatment of depression, with or without parkinsonism. In the case presented, a depressed patient with Parkinson's disease on levodopa/carbidopa and fluoxetine was given benztropine for his motor symptoms. The result was some improvement in his motor symptoms and a wide, dose-related spectrum of other central nervous system changes ranging from delirium to mania, hypomania, and euthymia from a "baseline" of residual depression. At a very low dose (0.25 mg per day), benztropine appeared to have an augmenting antidepressant effect that rendered the patient euthymic.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007980 Levodopa The naturally occurring form of DIHYDROXYPHENYLALANINE and the immediate precursor of DOPAMINE. Unlike dopamine itself, it can be taken orally and crosses the blood-brain barrier. It is rapidly taken up by dopaminergic neurons and converted to DOPAMINE. It is used for the treatment of PARKINSONIAN DISORDERS and is usually given with agents that inhibit its conversion to dopamine outside of the central nervous system. L-Dopa,3-Hydroxy-L-tyrosine,Dopaflex,Dopar,L-3,4-Dihydroxyphenylalanine,Larodopa,Levopa,3 Hydroxy L tyrosine,L 3,4 Dihydroxyphenylalanine,L Dopa
D008297 Male Males
D010300 Parkinson Disease A progressive, degenerative neurologic disease characterized by a TREMOR that is maximal at rest, retropulsion (i.e. a tendency to fall backwards), rigidity, stooped posture, slowness of voluntary movements, and a masklike facial expression. Pathologic features include loss of melanin containing neurons in the substantia nigra and other pigmented nuclei of the brainstem. LEWY BODIES are present in the substantia nigra and locus coeruleus but may also be found in a related condition (LEWY BODY DISEASE, DIFFUSE) characterized by dementia in combination with varying degrees of parkinsonism. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1059, pp1067-75) Idiopathic Parkinson Disease,Lewy Body Parkinson Disease,Paralysis Agitans,Primary Parkinsonism,Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease,Lewy Body Parkinson's Disease,Parkinson Disease, Idiopathic,Parkinson's Disease,Parkinson's Disease, Idiopathic,Parkinson's Disease, Lewy Body,Parkinsonism, Primary
D002230 Carbidopa An inhibitor of DOPA DECARBOXYLASE that prevents conversion of LEVODOPA to dopamine. It is used in PARKINSON DISEASE to reduce peripheral adverse effects of LEVODOPA. It has no anti-parkinson activity by itself. Methyldopahydrazine,Carbidopa, (R)-Isomer,Carbidopa, (S)-Isomer,Lodosin,Lodosyn,MK-485,MK-486,MK 485,MK 486,MK485,MK486
D003866 Depressive Disorder An affective disorder manifested by either a dysphoric mood or loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities. The mood disturbance is prominent and relatively persistent. Depression, Endogenous,Depression, Neurotic,Depression, Unipolar,Depressive Syndrome,Melancholia,Neurosis, Depressive,Unipolar Depression,Depressions, Endogenous,Depressions, Neurotic,Depressions, Unipolar,Depressive Disorders,Depressive Neuroses,Depressive Neurosis,Depressive Syndromes,Disorder, Depressive,Disorders, Depressive,Endogenous Depression,Endogenous Depressions,Melancholias,Neuroses, Depressive,Neurotic Depression,Neurotic Depressions,Syndrome, Depressive,Syndromes, Depressive,Unipolar Depressions
D004305 Dose-Response Relationship, Drug The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug. Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D004359 Drug Therapy, Combination Therapy with two or more separate preparations given for a combined effect. Combination Chemotherapy,Polychemotherapy,Chemotherapy, Combination,Combination Drug Therapy,Drug Polytherapy,Therapy, Combination Drug,Chemotherapies, Combination,Combination Chemotherapies,Combination Drug Therapies,Drug Polytherapies,Drug Therapies, Combination,Polychemotherapies,Polytherapies, Drug,Polytherapy, Drug,Therapies, Combination Drug
D005473 Fluoxetine The first highly specific serotonin uptake inhibitor. It is used as an antidepressant and often has a more acceptable side-effects profile than traditional antidepressants. Fluoxetin,Fluoxetine Hydrochloride,Lilly-110140,N-Methyl-gamma-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenoxy)benzenepropanamine,Prozac,Sarafem,Lilly 110140,Lilly110140
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368 Aged A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available. Elderly

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