Trihexyphenidyl
Trihexyphenidyl is an anticholinergic tablet for Parkinson's disease and medication-induced movement problems, stocked here as Artane 2mg tablets in packs you can order.
Trihexyphenidyl is one of the older oral medicines for Parkinson's disease. It belongs to the anticholinergic group, also called antimuscarinics: it blocks acetylcholine, a chemical messenger that carries signals between nerve cells. In Parkinson's the brain loses dopamine, so acetylcholine signalling becomes relatively strong; damping it down eases stiffness, tremor and the slow, shuffling movement that comes with the condition. The same action helps the restless, involuntary movements some other medicines, especially antipsychotics, can bring on.
What it is used for
Two groups of people usually take it. One is people with Parkinson's disease, often early on or alongside levodopa. The other is people who develop drug-induced movement problems — a stiff neck or back, a fixed stare, restlessness or involuntary twisting — after starting a medicine that blocks dopamine in the brain. It calms those symptoms while the other medicine continues. It is not a cure for Parkinson's and does not slow the disease down.
How it is taken
The tablets are swallowed with water, usually three times a day, spaced through the day and often with meals. Treatment starts low and the dose is raised step by step until symptoms settle, so what one person takes can differ a lot from another. Keeping to the same times each day gives a steadier effect than taking the tablets as and when.
Side effects
A dry mouth, blurred vision, dizziness, constipation and trouble passing urine are the everyday anticholinergic effects. They show up most at the start and often ease. Drowsiness and nervousness are common too. Confusion, hallucinations, a fast heartbeat or a fever with hot, dry skin mean the anticholinergic effect has built up too far for that person. Sudden eye pain with blurred vision and halos around lights can be acute glaucoma (a sharp rise in pressure inside the eye) and needs urgent treatment.
Interactions and storage
Alcohol adds to the drowsiness and dizziness. Antihistamines, antidepressants, antipsychotics and medicines for an overactive bladder have similar drying effects, and together they multiply dry mouth, constipation and confusion. Trihexyphenidyl can also make the involuntary movements caused by levodopa worse. Keep the tablets in their packaging, somewhere cool and dark.
Buying trihexyphenidyl
PockDose stocks it as Artane 2mg tablets, and the same product appears under the ingredient name. Artane is the brand name of trihexyphenidyl, not a different medicine. It belongs to the Neurology category with the rest of the shop's Parkinson's and movement-disorder medicines.
Sources
- Trihexyphenidyl: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine
- Trihexyphenidyl Hydrochloride 5mg/5ml Syrup — UK Electronic Medicines Compendium (EMC)
Can I order Trihexyphenidyl online in Hong Kong?
Trihexyphenidyl can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong. It is listed as generic Artane, also sold as Trihexyphenidyl tablets, as 2mg tablets. Tracked courier delivery to Hong Kong takes 5 to 9 business days and comes with online tracking.
What is the price of Trihexyphenidyl?
The trihexyphenidyl product has its own price per pack, shown on its page in HKD or your selected currency; larger packs usually cost less per unit.
Do I need a prescription to order Trihexyphenidyl?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order trihexyphenidyl. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What is another name for trihexyphenidyl?
Artane is a brand name of trihexyphenidyl, which is also sold as Pacitane. Here, trihexyphenidyl can be bought online as generic Artane. These are generics, not the original brand.
Is trihexyphenidyl the same as Artane?
Yes. Artane is a brand name for trihexyphenidyl, so a 2mg Artane tablet and a 2mg trihexyphenidyl tablet contain the same active ingredient. PockDose shows it under both names on the one product page.
How long does trihexyphenidyl take to work?
It is not a painkiller that acts within the hour. The starting dose is low and increased step by step, so the effect on stiffness and tremor develops over the first days and weeks of steady dosing rather than after a single tablet.
Can I drink alcohol with trihexyphenidyl?
Alcohol and trihexyphenidyl both slow the nervous system, so drinking can add to drowsiness, dizziness and unsteadiness, and makes confusion more likely. A drink with a meal is unlikely to trouble most people; a heavy night on this medicine is a different matter.
What are extrapyramidal symptoms?
The term covers the movement problems some medicines bring on: muscle stiffness, a fixed stare, restlessness, or involuntary twisting of the neck, back or eyes. Trihexyphenidyl is used to settle them, which is why it turns up alongside antipsychotics and some anti-sickness medicines.
Is trihexyphenidyl a cure for Parkinson's disease?
No. It calms stiffness, tremor and slowness but leaves the underlying loss of dopamine untouched, and it does not change how quickly Parkinson's progresses. It is used for symptom control, either on its own early on or alongside levodopa.