procyclidine hydrochloride at a glance
Medicine class
Antimuscarinic, also called an anticholinergic
Licensed uses
Parkinson’s disease and troublesome neuroleptic-induced movement symptoms
Available oral forms
Tablets and oral solutions
Driving
Do not drive or use machinery if blurred vision, dizziness, confusion or disorientation occurs
Stopping treatment
Do not stop suddenly unless instructed, because parkinsonian symptoms may rebound
What is procyclidine hydrochloride used for?
Selected oral products are licensed for:
Parkinson’s disease, including idiopathic, postencephalitic and arteriosclerotic forms.
Troublesome extrapyramidal symptoms caused by neuroleptic medicines, including drug-induced parkinsonism, acute dystonic reactions and akathisia.
Procyclidine does not improve tardive dyskinesia and may make it worse.
How does procyclidine hydrochloride work?
Procyclidine blocks muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in the brain. This reduces excessive cholinergic activity relative to dopamine activity in movement-control pathways, helping symptoms such as rigidity, slowed movement and tremor.
procyclidine hydrochloride preparations and strengths
Oral solution
Route: Oral
Strengths: 2.5 mg/5 mL, 5 mg/5 mL
Tablet
Route: Oral
Strengths: 5 mg
How to take procyclidine hydrochloride
Take procyclidine by mouth exactly as directed on the dispensing label. Swallow tablets with water; taking them after food may reduce unwanted effects. Measure oral solution carefully using the device recommended by your pharmacist. Do not switch between differently concentrated liquids without professional advice.
Do not stop treatment suddenly unless your prescriber tells you to.
Do not drive or operate machinery if vision, alertness or thinking is affected.
Check the product leaflet because tablet and liquid ingredients differ.
procyclidine hydrochloride side effects
Common or expected effects
- Dry mouth
- Blurred vision
- Constipation
- Difficulty passing urine
Get urgent medical advice
- Severe allergic reaction
- New hallucinations, delusions or marked confusion
- Severe agitation or disorientation
- Fast heartbeat requiring medical assessment
- Inability to pass urine
procyclidine hydrochloride in pregnancy
Safety during pregnancy has not been established. Treatment should be considered only when the expected benefit to the mother outweighs possible fetal risk, so discuss pregnancy or plans for pregnancy with the prescriber rather than stopping abruptly.
procyclidine hydrochloride while breastfeeding
It is unknown whether procyclidine passes into human milk. A prescriber or specialist should assess the need for treatment, available alternatives and the infant’s circumstances before breastfeeding during use.
procyclidine hydrochloride interactions
Tell the prescriber or pharmacist about all prescribed, non-prescribed and herbal products. Important examples include:
Other anticholinergic medicines
Antihistamines, tricyclic antidepressants, clozapine, phenothiazines, amantadine, memantine, disopyramide and nefopam can increase anticholinergic effects such as dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention and confusion.
Paroxetine
Paroxetine can increase procyclidine exposure and may intensify anticholinergic adverse effects.
Levodopa
Procyclidine may reduce levodopa’s effectiveness by delaying gastric emptying and increasing degradation in the stomach.
Common questions about procyclidine hydrochloride
Answers are fully visible for fast scanning and source review.
What is procyclidine hydrochloride used for?
It is used for Parkinson’s disease and troublesome movement symptoms caused by neuroleptic medicines, including drug-induced parkinsonism and acute dystonia.
How does procyclidine hydrochloride work?
It blocks muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in movement-control pathways, helping restore the functional balance between cholinergic and dopaminergic activity.
Is procyclidine hydrochloride an anticholinergic?
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.