Question 43

Question:

An 85-year-old male is brought to your office by his wife. She complains that his memory has been gradually getting worse and that he has difficulty buttoning his shirt. On interviewing him, you find that he has trouble finding words. Which drug is contraindicated for his condition?

Correct Answer: A.  Benztropine

Correct Answer: A. Benztropine

This patient has symptoms consistent with Alzheimer’s Disease. He has memory impairment, apraxia, and difficulty finding words. Drugs given to delay the progression of disease are cholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine) and NMDA antagonists (memantine).

Benztropine is a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist; although Parkinson’s disease is not well understood, it is clear that benztropine should not be used in conjunction with any of the cholinesterase inhibitors.