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Benztropine Dosage
When determining your benztropine dosage, your healthcare provider will consider several factors, such as the medical condition being treated, other medical conditions you have, and other medications you are taking. Because the effects (including both the beneficial effects and the side effects) of benztropine can take a few days to appear, it is recommended to start benztropine at a low dose and slowly increase it. The maximum benztropine dose is 6 mg total per day.
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The dose of benztropine mesylate (Cogentin®) that your healthcare provider recommends will vary, depending on a number of factors, including:
- The medical condition being treated
- How you respond to benztropine (especially if you develop side effects)
- Other medications you are taking
- Other medical conditions you may have.
As is always the case, do not adjust your dose unless your healthcare provider specifically instructs you to do so.
For treating extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) due to antipsychotic medications, the recommended benztropine dosage is 1 mg to 4 mg once or twice a day. If EPS develops soon after an antipsychotic medication is started, sometimes using benztropine 1 mg or 2 mg, two or three times daily, for one or two weeks may be sufficient (as EPS symptoms are sometimes temporary). Your healthcare provider will help you find a benztropine dose that is right for you -- one that is effective without causing problematic side effects.
Because the effects of benztropine can take a few days to appear (including both the beneficial effects and the side effects), it is recommended to start benztropine at a low dose and slowly increase it, typically by increments of 0.5 mg every five or six days. The maximum dose of benztropine is 6 mg total per day.
Although most people take benztropine tablets, an injectable form is also available for use in certain situations.
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD