If Artane tends to dry the mouth excessively, it may be better to take it before meals, unless it causes nausea. If taken after meals, the thirst sometimes induced can be allayed by mint candies, chewing gum or water. As initial therapy for Parkinsonism, 1mg of Artane may be administered the first day. The total daily dose will depend upon what is found to be an optimal level. The lower levels of daily intake of Artane are tolerated best if divided into 4 parts, with 3 doses administered at mealtimes and the fourth at bedtime.
Careful adjustment is necessary, depending on side-effects and the degree of symptom control.
Artane dosage of 1 to 2mg three times a day is usually adequate. The usual techn que is partial substitution initially, with progressive reduction in other medication as the dose of trihexyphenidyl HCL is increased. The size and frequency of dose of Artane needed to control extrapyramidal reactions to commonly employed tranquilizers, notibly the phenothiazines, thioxanthenes and butyrophenones must be determined empirically. The total daily dosage usually ranges between 5mg - 15mg although in some cases, these reactions have been satisfactorily controlled on as little as 1mg daily. It may be advisable to commence therapy with a single 1mg dose.