Neuro Med Cards

Benztropine (Cogentin) class

Anticholinergic antiparkinson agent

Benztropine (Cogentin) indication

Parkinsonism; drug-induced extrapyramidal symptoms.

Benztropine (Cogentin) action

Blocks muscarinic receptors and decreases excess cholinergic activity

Benztropine (Cogentin) side effect

Dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, dizziness

Benztropine (Cogentin) adverse effect

Tachycardia, ileus, heat stroke

Benztropine (Cogentin) considerations

Monitor mental status, bowel/bladder function; avoid overheating

Trihexyphenidyl (Artane) class

Anticholinergic antiparkinson agent

Trihexyphenidyl (Artane) indication

Parkinsonism; drug-induced EPS

Trihexyphenidyl (Artane) action

Blocks central cholinergic activity

Trihexyphenidyl (Artane) side effect

Dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation

Trihexyphenidyl (Artane) adverse effect

Urinary retention, confusion

Trihexyphenidyl (Artane) consideration

Monitor for anticholinergic effects

Levodopa Inhaled (Inbrija) class

Dopaminergic

Levodopa Inhaled (Inbrija) indication

OFF episodes in Parkinson disease

Levodopa Inhaled (Inbrija) action

Converted to dopamine in CNS

Levodopa Inhaled (Inbrija) side effect

Cough, nausea

Levodopa Inhaled (Inbrija) adverse effect

Hallucinations, dyskinesia

Levodopa Inhaled (Inbrija) consideration

Monitor respiratory status

Carbidopa-Levodopa (Sinemet) class

Dopaminergic combination

Carbidopa-Levodopa (Sinemet) indication

Parkinson disease

Carbidopa-Levodopa (Sinemet) action

Levodopa becomes dopamine; carbidopa blocks peripheral breakdown

Carbidopa-Levodopa (Sinemet) side effect

Nausea, dizziness, dyskinesias

Carbidopa-Levodopa (Sinemet) adverse effect

Orthostatic hypotension, hallucinations

Carbidopa-Levodopa (Sinemet) consideration

Monitor BP, mobility, mental status

Apomorphine (Apokyn) class

Dopamine agonist

Apomorphine (Apokyn) indication

OFF episodes in Parkinson disease

Apomorphine (Apokyn) action

Stimulates dopamine receptors

Apomorphine (Apokyn) side effect

Yawning, dizziness, nausea

Apomorphine (Apokyn) adverse effect

Hypotension, dyskinesias

Apomorphine (Apokyn) consideration

Monitor BP; antiemetic may be needed

Rivastigmine (Exelon) class

Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor

Rivastigmine (Exelon) indication

Alzheimer disease

Rivastigmine (Exelon) action

Inhibits acetylcholinesterase to increase acetylcholine

Rivastigmine (Exelon) side effect

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

Rivastigmine (Exelon) adverse effect

Bradycardia, GI bleeding

Rivastigmine (Exelon) consideration

Monitor cognition, pulse, weight

Memantine (Namenda) class

NMDA receptor antagonist

Memantine (Namenda) indication

Moderate-severe Alzheimer disease

Memantine (Namenda) action

Blocks NMDA receptors

Memantine (Namenda) side effect

Headache, dizziness, constipation

Memantine (Namenda) adverse effect

Hypertension, heart failure

Memantine (Namenda) consideration

Monitor cognition and renal function.

Aducanumab (Aduhelm) class

Monoclonal antibody

Aducanumab (Aduhelm) indication

Alzheimer disease

Aducanumab (Aduhelm) action

Targets amyloid-beta plaques

Aducanumab (Aduhelm) side effect

Headache, falls

Aducanumab (Aduhelm) adverse effect

ARIA, hypersensitivity

Aducanumab (Aduhelm) consideration

MRI before/during therapy; monitor infusion.