Ethopropazine (also known as profenamine hydrochloride) is a medication derived from phenothiazine. It is primarily used as an antidyskinetic to treat parkinsonism. It is sold under the trade names Parsidol in the United States and Parsidan in Canada.
Indication
For use in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and also used to control severe reactions to certain medicines such as reserpine.
Pharmacology
Ethopropazine, a phenothiazine and antidyskinetic, is used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. By improving muscle control and reducing stiffness, this drug permits more normal movements of the body as the disease symptoms are reduced. It is also used to control severe reactions to certain medicines such as reserpine, phenothiazines, chlorprothixene, thiothixene, loxapine, and haloperidol. Unlike other NMDA antagonists, ethopropazine — because of its anticholinergic action — is largely devoid of neurotoxic side effects. Ethopropazine also has a slight antihistaminic and local anesthetic effect.
Toxicity
Symptoms of overdose include severe clumsiness or unsteadiness, severe drowsiness, severe dryness of mouth, nose, or throat, fast heartbeat, shortness of breath or troubled breathing, and warmth, dryness, and flushing of skin.
A member of the class of phenothiazines that is phenothiazine in which the hydrogen attached to the nitrogen is substituted by a 2-(diethylamino)propyl group. An antimuscarinic, it is used as the hydrochloride for the symptomatic treatment of Parkinson's disease.