Dryness of mouth, giddiness, mydriasis, blurring of vision, disorientation and gastric discomfort may occur occasionally. Light-headedness, nausea, vomiting, epigastric distress, constipation may occur. Occasionally an allergic reaction such as a skin rash may be encountered. Suppurative parotitis as a complication of dry mouth has been reported. These reactions can usually be minimized or eliminated by careful adjustment of dosage to a level just sufficient for adequate control of symptoms and by giving the drug during or after meals.
Smaller doses are effective in some cases.
Occasionally, a patient is encountered who cannot tolerate a bedtime dose of procyclidine. In such cases it may be desirable to adjust dosage so that the bedtime dose is omitted and the total daily requirement is administered in 3 equal daytime doses. Procyclidine is best administered during or after meals to minimize the development of untoward effects. For drug induced extrapyramidal symptoms, to provide maximum relief of induced symptoms, the usual starting dosage of procyclidine is 2.5 mg 3 times daily after meals. This may be increased by 2.5 mg daily increments until patient obtains relief, usually with 10 to 20 mg daily.