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Can you take Benztropine with Robafen DM Clear?

1 drug interaction and 17 additional warnings found for the following 2 drugs:

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Drug interactions

Moderate drug interactions

Moderate:

benztropine dextromethorphan

Applies to: benztropine and Robafen DM Clear (dextromethorphan / guaifenesin)

Using benztropine together with dextromethorphan may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. Some people, especially the elderly, may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with these medications. Also avoid activities requiring mental alertness such as driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medications affect you. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Food/lifestyle interactions

Moderate food/lifestyle interactions

Moderate:

dextromethorphan Food/Lifestyle

Applies to: Robafen DM Clear (dextromethorphan / guaifenesin)

Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of dextromethorphan such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. Some people may also experience impairment in thinking and judgment. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with dextromethorphan. Do not use more than the recommended dose of dextromethorphan, and avoid activities requiring mental alertness such as driving or operating hazardous machinery until you know how the medication affects you. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns.

Moderate:

benztropine Alcohol (Ethanol)

Applies to: benztropine

Ask your doctor before using benztropine together with ethanol (alcohol). Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness while you are taking benztropine. You should be warned not to exceed recommended dosages and to avoid activities requiring mental alertness. If your doctor prescribes these medications together, you may need a dose adjustment to safely take this combination. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

Disease interactions

15 potential interactions Applies to: 14 conditions, including High Blood Pressure, Heart Failure, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, Arrhythmia, and Fever.

Alcoholism

Moderate:

benztropine

Benztropine has a moderate potential interaction with Alcoholism.

Since benztropine contains structural features of atropine, it may produce anhidrosis. Benztropine should be administered with caution during hot weather, especially when given concomitantly with other atropine-like drugs to the chronically ill, the alcoholic, those who have central nervous system disease, and those who do manual labor in a hot environment. Anhidrosis may occur more readily when some disturbance of sweating already exists. If there is evidence of anhidrosis, the possibility of hyperthermia should be considered. Severe anhidrosis and fatal hyperthermia have occurred with the use of benztropine. Caution is recommended when prescribing benztropine to patients with inability to sweat normally.

Arrhythmia

Moderate:

benztropine

Benztropine has a moderate potential interaction with Arrhythmia.

Therapy with benztropine should be administered cautiously in patients with tachycardia, or congestive heart failure. Close monitoring is recommended when this agent is prescribed to these patients.

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Moderate:

benztropine

Benztropine has a moderate potential interaction with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

Therapy with benztropine should be administered cautiously in patients with prostatic hypertrophy. Close monitoring is recommended when benztropine is prescribed to these patients.

Central Nervous System Disorders

Moderate:

benztropine

Benztropine has a moderate potential interaction with Central Nervous System Disorders.

Since benztropine contains structural features of atropine, it may produce anhidrosis. Benztropine should be administered with caution during hot weather, especially when given concomitantly with other atropine-like drugs to the chronically ill, the alcoholic, those who have central nervous system disease, and those who do manual labor in a hot environment. Anhidrosis may occur more readily when some disturbance of sweating already exists. If there is evidence of anhidrosis, the possibility of hyperthermia should be considered. Severe anhidrosis and fatal hyperthermia have occurred with the use of benztropine. Caution is recommended when prescribing benztropine to patients with inability to sweat normally.

Moderate:

benztropine

Benztropine has a moderate potential interaction with Central Nervous System Disorders.

The use of benztropine may cause mental confusion and excitement may occur with large doses, or in susceptible patients. In addition, visual hallucinations have been reported. Furthermore, in the treatment of extrapyramidal disorders due to neuroleptic drugs (e.g., phenothiazines), in patients with mental disorders, occasionally there may be intensification of mental symptoms. In such cases, antiparkinsonian drugs can precipitate a toxic psychosis. Patients with mental disorders should be kept under careful observation, especially at the beginning of treatment or if dosage is increased.

Esophageal Obstruction

Moderate:

benztropine

Benztropine has a moderate potential interaction with Esophageal Obstruction.

Benztropine should be used with caution in patients with obstructive diseases such as achalasia, esophageal stricture or stenosis, pyloroduodenal stenosis, stenosing peptic ulcer, pyloric obstruction, and paralytic ileus. Anticholinergics may further suppress intestinal motility with resultant precipitation or aggravation of toxic megacolon. Caution is recommended when prescribing benztropine to these patients.

Fever

Minor:

benztropine

Benztropine has a minor potential interaction with Fever.

Atropine-like agents may increase the risk of hyperthermia in patients with fever by producing anhidrosis. Therapy with atropine-like agents should be administered cautiously in febrile patients.

Gastrointestinal Obstruction

Moderate:

benztropine

Benztropine has a moderate potential interaction with Gastrointestinal Obstruction.

Benztropine should be used with caution in patients with obstructive diseases such as achalasia, esophageal stricture or stenosis, pyloroduodenal stenosis, stenosing peptic ulcer, pyloric obstruction, and paralytic ileus. Anticholinergics may further suppress intestinal motility with resultant precipitation or aggravation of toxic megacolon. Caution is recommended when prescribing benztropine to these patients.

Glaucoma/Intraocular Hypertension

Major:

benztropine

Benztropine has a major potential interaction with Glaucoma/Intraocular Hypertension.

Benztropine should not be used in angle-closure glaucoma. Although benztropine does not appear to have any adverse effect on simple glaucoma, it probably should not be used in angle-closure glaucoma as anticholinergics cause mydriasis and they may exacerbate this condition.

Heart Failure

Moderate:

benztropine

Benztropine has a moderate potential interaction with Heart Failure.

Therapy with benztropine should be administered cautiously in patients with tachycardia, or congestive heart failure. Close monitoring is recommended when this agent is prescribed to these patients.

High Blood Pressure

Moderate:

benztropine

Benztropine has a moderate potential interaction with High Blood Pressure.

Cardiovascular effects of anticholinergic agents may exacerbate hypertension. Therapy with benztropine should be administered cautiously in patients with hypertension.

Infectious Gastroenteritis

Major:

benztropine

Benztropine has a major potential interaction with Infectious Gastroenteritis.

The use of drugs with antiperistaltic activity (primarily antidiarrheal and antimuscarinic agents, but also antispasmodic agents such as dicyclomine or oxybutynin at high dosages) is contraindicated in patients with diarrhea due to pseudomembranous enterocolitis or enterotoxin-producing bacteria. These drugs may prolong and/or worsen diarrhea associated with organisms that invade the intestinal mucosa, such as toxigenic E. coli, Salmonella and Shigella, and pseudomembranous colitis due to broad-spectrum antibiotics. Other symptoms and complications such as fever, shedding of organisms and extraintestinal illness may also be increased or prolonged. In general, because antiperistaltic agents decrease gastrointestinal motility, they may delay the excretion of infective gastroenteric organisms or toxins and should be used cautiously in patients with any infectious diarrhea, particularly if accompanied by high fever or pus or blood in the stool. Some cough and cold and other combination products may occasionally include antimuscarinic agents for their drying effects and may, therefore, require careful selection when necessary.

Psychosis

Moderate:

benztropine

Benztropine has a moderate potential interaction with Psychosis.

Toxic psychosis manifested as confusion, disorientation, agitation, excitation, memory impairment, delusions and hallucinations may develop at toxic and therapeutic dosages of antimuscarinic agents. Therapy with these agents should be administered cautiously in patients with mental disorders receiving antimuscarinic agents for control of drug-induced extrapyramidal effects, especially at the beginning of therapy or during dosage adjustment. Psychiatric deterioration and psychotic flare-ups have also been reported following withdrawal of therapy. Symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, aggression or violent behavior, and suicidal tendencies. In high dosages, antimuscarinic agents may sometimes produce euphorigenic effects. For this reason, it can be a drug of abuse.

Tardive Dyskinesia

Moderate:

benztropine

Benztropine has a moderate potential interaction with Tardive Dyskinesia.

Benztropine may precipitate symptoms of tardive dyskinesia (TD), a syndrome consisting of rhythmic involuntary movements variously involving the tongue, face, mouth, lips, jaw, and/or trunk and extremities, following chronic use of at least several months but often years. Elderly patients, particularly women, are most susceptible. Antiparkinsonism agents do not alleviate the symptoms of tardive dyskinesia, and in some instances may aggravate them. Benztropine is not recommended for use in patients with tardive dyskinesia.

Urinary Retention

Moderate:

benztropine

Benztropine has a moderate potential interaction with Urinary Retention.

Dysuria may occur with the use of benztropine, but it rarely becomes a problem. Also, urinary retention has been reported. Caution is advised even when using benztropine in patients with urinary blockage, particularly in elderly patients.

More resources

benztropine

A total of 362 drugs are known to interact with benztropine.

Robafen DM Clear

A total of 375 drugs are known to interact with Robafen DM Clear.

Drug Interaction Classification

These classifications are only a guideline. The relevance of a particular drug interaction to a specific individual is difficult to determine. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any medication.
Major Highly clinically significant. Avoid combinations; the risk of the interaction outweighs the benefit.
Moderate Moderately clinically significant. Usually avoid combinations; use it only under special circumstances.
Minor Minimally clinically significant. Minimize risk; assess risk and consider an alternative drug, take steps to circumvent the interaction risk and/or institute a monitoring plan.
Unknown No interaction information available.

Further information

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