In highly sensitive patients, therapy may be initiated with 0.5 mg at bedtime, and increased as necessary. Frequently, one dose a day is sufficient, and divided doses may be unnecessary or undesirable. The long duration of action of this drug makes it particularly suitable for bedtime medication when its effects may last throughout the night, enabling patients to turn in bed during the night more easily, and to rise in the morning. When benztropine mesylate is started, do not terminate therapy with other antiparkinsonian agents abruptly. If the other agents are to be reduced or discontinued, it must be done gradually.
Many patients obtain greatest relief with combination therapy.
Dosage must be individualized according to the need of the patient. One to 2 mg of benztropine mesylate tablets two or three times a day usually provides relief within one or two days. After one or two weeks, the drug should be withdrawn to determine the continued need for it. If such disorders recur, benztropine mesylate can be reinstituted. Certain drug-induced extrapyramidal disorders that develop slowly may not respond to benztropine mesylate.