Cogentin Side Effects

Generic name: benztropine

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Mar 5, 2024.

Note: This document contains side effect information about benztropine. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply to the brand name Cogentin.

Applies to benztropine: oral tablet. Other dosage forms:

• injection solution

Serious side effects of Cogentin

Along with its needed effects, benztropine (the active ingredient contained in Cogentin) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking benztropine:

Incidence not known

• Abdominal or stomach cramps or pain
• aggressive and violent behavior
• being forgetful
• bloating
• burning while urinating
• confusion about identity, place, and time
• constipation
• decrease in frequency of urination
• decrease in urine volume
• diarrhea
• difficult or painful urination
• difficulty in passing urine (dribbling)
• difficulty with speaking
• difficulty with swallowing
• discouragement
• dizziness
• dry mouth
• extremely high fever or body temperature
• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
• fast, shallow breathing
• fast, weak heartbeat
• feeling sad or empty
• fever
• headache
• hot, dry skin
• irritability
• lack of appetite
• lack of sweating
• listlessness
• loss of interest or pleasure
• mood or mental changes
• muscle cramps
• muscle weakness
• nervousness
• numbness of the fingers
• pale, clammy skin
• seeing things that are not there
• thirst
• tiredness
• trouble concentrating
• trouble with sleeping
• vomiting

Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur while taking benztropine:

Symptoms of overdose

• Blindness
• blurred vision
• change in consciousness
• cold clammy skin
• decreased vision
• dizziness
• eye pain
• holding false beliefs that cannot be changed by fact
• lightheadedness
• loss of consciousness
• muscle weakness
• nausea or vomiting
• no breathing
• nosebleeds
• numbness or tingling in the face, arms, or legs
• shakiness and unsteady walk
• sweating
• tearing
• unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
• unusual excitement, nervousness, or restlessness
• vision problems
• wheezing

Other side effects of Cogentin

Some side effects of benztropine may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Incidence not known

• Enlarged pupils
• loss of appetite
• skin rash
• weight loss

For Healthcare Professionals

Applies to benztropine: compounding powder, injectable solution, oral tablet.

General

Adverse reactions are anticholinergic in nature and include dry mouth, constipation, tachycardia, and blurred vision.^[Ref]

Nervous system

Frequency not reported: Numbness of fingers^[Ref]

Psychiatric

Frequency not reported: Toxic psychosis, including confusion, disorientation, memory impairment, visual hallucinations, exacerbation of preexisting psychotic symptoms, nervousness, depression^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

Frequency not reported: Constipation, dry mouth, nausea, vomiting, paralytic ileus^[Ref]

Ocular

Frequency not reported: Blurred vision, dilated pupils^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

Frequency not reported: Tachycardia^[Ref]

Genitourinary

Frequency not reported: Urinary retention, dysuria^[Ref]

Hypersensitivity

Frequency not reported: Allergic reaction^[Ref]

Other

Frequency not reported: Heatstroke, hyperthermia, fever^[Ref]

Dermatologic

Frequency not reported: Skin rash^[Ref]

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Some side effects may not be reported. You may report them to the FDA.

Medical Disclaimer