Aisle7 - Wellspring Pharmacy

Biperiden Oral

Pronounced

"bye-PER-i-den"

Common brand names:

Akineton

Uses

Biperiden is used to treat symptoms of Parkinson's disease or involuntary movements due to the side effects of certain psychiatric drugs (antipsychotics such as chlorpromazine/haloperidol). Biperiden belongs to a class of medication called anticholinergics that work by blocking a certain natural substance (acetylcholine). This helps decrease muscle stiffness, sweating, and the production of saliva, and helps improve walking ability in people with Parkinson's disease.

Anticholinergics can stop severe muscle spasms of the back, neck, and eyes that are sometimes caused by psychiatric drugs. It can also decrease other side effects such as muscle stiffness/rigidity (extrapyramidal signs-EPS). It is not helpful in treating movement problems caused by tardive dyskinesia and may worsen them.

How to Use This Medication

Take this medication by mouth, usually 1 to 4 times a day with meals and at bedtime or as directed by your doctor. Your doctor may start you at a low dose and increase your dose slowly to find the best dose for you. The usual maximum dose is 16 milligrams each day. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to therapy.

Take this medication regularly in order to get the most benefit from it. To help you remember, take it at the same times each day.

Take this medication at least 1 hour before antacids containing magnesium, aluminum, or calcium. Allow at least 1-2 hours between doses of biperiden and certain drugs for diarrhea (adsorbent antidiarrheals such as kaolin, pectin, attapulgite). Take this medication at least 2 hours after ketoconazole. Antacids and some drugs for diarrhea may prevent the full absorption of biperiden, and this product may prevent the complete absorption of ketoconazole when these products are taken together.

If you are taking this medication for side effects from another medication, your doctor may instruct you to take it on a regular schedule or only as needed. If you are taking this medication for Parkinson's disease, your doctor may change the dose of your other medications (e.g., levodopa). Follow your doctor's instructions closely.

When used for an extended period, this medication may not work as well and may require different dosing. Talk with your doctor if this medication stops working well.

Rarely, abnormal drug-seeking behavior (addiction) is possible with this medication. Do not increase your dose, take it more frequently, or use it for a longer time than prescribed. Properly stop the medication when so directed. Some conditions may become worse when the drug is abruptly stopped. Your dose may need to be gradually decreased.

Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it worsens.

RxAnswers™ is a copyrighted combined product from Aisle7 and First DataBank, Inc.

Drug information is selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First DataBank, Inc. This is a summary and does not contain all possible information about this product. For complete information about this product or your specific health needs, ask your healthcare professional. Always seek the advice of your healthcare professional if you have any questions about this product or your medical condition. This information is not intended as individual medical advice and does not substitute for the knowledge and judgment of your healthcare professional. This information does not contain any assurances that this product is safe, effective or appropriate for you.

This information is intended only for residents of the United States. Products sold under the same brand names in other countries may contain different ingredients.

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Information expires June 2013.

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