Cogentin vs. Gocovri, Symmetrel

Cogentin (benztropine mesylate) and Gocovri (amantadine extended release capsules) are anti-Parkinson's agents prescribed for treating the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.

Cogentin is also used to treat related drug-induced side effects.

Cogentin is also an anticholinergic agent and Gocovri is also an antiviral drug.

Side effects of Cogentin and Gocovri that are similar include dizziness, headache, loss of appetite, nausea, sleeplessness (insomnia), depression, vision changes, or dry mouth.

Side effects of Cogentin that are different from Gocovri include drowsiness, stomach upset, trembling of the hands, numbness in your fingers, memory problems, nervousness, excitability, or increased sensitivity to light.

Side effects of Gocovri that are different from Cogentin include hallucinations, swelling of extremities, constipation, falls, dizziness on standing (orthostatic hypotension), anxiety, abnormal dreams, confusion, muscle cramps, vomiting, gait disturbance, bruising, urinary tract infection (UTI), changes in skin pigmentation, cataracts, dry eye, joint swelling, muscle spasms, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and cough.

Both Cogentin and Gocovri may interact with alcohol.

Cogentin may also interact with other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicines, sedatives, narcotics, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicines for seizures, depression, or anxiety), amantadine, glycopyrrolate, mepenzolate, diuretics (water pills), potassium supplements, antidepressants, atropine, belladonna, dimenhydrinate, meclizine, methscopolamine, scopolamine, bladder or urinary medications, bronchodilators, irritable bowel medications, medicines to treat Alzheimer's dementia, or medicines to treat psychiatric disorders.

Gocovri may also interact with other anticholinergic drugs, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, sodium bicarbonate, and live vaccines.

Side effects of Cogentin include:

• drowsiness,
• dizziness,
• headache,
• loss of appetite,
• nausea,
• stomach upset,
• vision changes,
• sleeplessness,
• trembling of the hands,
• numbness in your fingers,
• depression,
• memory problems,
• nervousness,
• excitability,
• dry mouth,
• double vision, or
• increased sensitivity to light.

Common side effects of Gocovri include:

• hallucinations,
• dizziness,
• dry mouth,
• swelling of extremities,
• constipation,
• falls,
• and dizziness on standing (orthostatic hypotension).

Other side effects of Gocovri include:

• anxiety,
• insomnia,
• depression,
• abnormal dreams,
• confusion,
• headache,
• muscle cramps,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• gait disturbance,
• bruising,
• urinary tract infection,
• changes in skin pigmentation,
• decreased appetite,
• blurred vision,
• cataracts,
• dry eyes,
• joint swelling,
• muscle spasms,
• benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH),
• and cough.

Cogentin (benztropine mesylate) is an anti-Parkinson's agent and anticholinergic agent prescribed for treating the symptoms of Parkinson's disease and related drug-induced side effects.

Gocovri (amantadine extended release capsules) is an antivirial and anti-Parkinson drug indicated for the treatment of dyskinesia in patients with Parkinson's disease receiving levodopa-based therapy, with or without concomitant dopaminergic medications.

Cogentin may interact with alcohol, other medicines that make you sleepy (such as cold or allergy medicine, sedatives, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, muscle relaxers, and medicine for seizures, depression, or anxiety), amantadine, glycopyrrolate, mepenzolate, diuretics (water pills), potassium supplements, antidepressants, atropine, belladonna, dimenhydrinate, meclizine, methscopolamine, scopolamine, bladder or urinary medications, bronchodilators, irritable bowel medications, medicines to treat Alzheimer's dementia, or medicines to treat psychiatric disorders. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant while using Cogentin; it is unknown if it will harm a fetus. It is unknown if Cogentin passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Gocovri may interact with other anticholinergic drugs, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, sodium bicarbonate, alcohol, and “live” vaccines. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use and all vaccines you recently received. Gocovri is not recommended for use during pregnancy; it may harm a fetus. Gocovri passes into breast milk but its effect on nursing infants is unknown. Gocovri may alter breast milk production or excretion. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Cogentin usual adult dose ranges from 0.5 - 6 mg/day in 1-2 divided doses.

The initial daily dosage of Gocovri is 137 mg, administered orally once daily at bedtime. After one week, increase to the recommended dosage of 274 mg (two 137 mg capsules) once daily at bedtime.