Y. Kaminer, H. Munitz, H. Wijsenbeek
May 1, 1982
Citations
2
Influential Citations
38
Citations
Journal
British Journal of Psychiatry
Abstract
Trihexyphenidyl (benzhexol, Artane) is an anticholinergic drug widely used among the psychiatric population in order to control extrapyramidal symptoms from the use of anti-psychotic drugs. In addition to the many well-known somatic and psychiatric side effects caused by the drug (Shader and Greenblatt, 1971), including toxic psychosis, trihexyphenidyl has been reported as causing a euphoriant effect (Bolin, 1960; Jellinek, 1977; Parker, 1978; Rubinstein, 1978; Shader and Greenblatt, 1971; Goggin and Solomon, 1979). Benztropine and biperiden are known to have caused similar phenomena (Jellinek, 1977; Stephens, 1967). Trihexyphenidyl is known as an hallucinogenic agent amongst thrill-seeking adolescents (Rouchell and Dixon, 1977) and among prisoners in the US who abuse the drug either orally or by smoking it as a powder mixed with tobacco (Woody and O'Brien, 1974).