Drug-induced parkinsonism

Drug-induced parkinsonism is common but often unrecognized. In addition to neuroleptics, many medications of diverse chemical nature may induce or exacerbate parkinsonism

Reports in the literature of drug-induced parkinsonism or of an underlying parkinsonian disorder exacerbated by a medication were located using MEDLINE, and pertinent bibliographies were reviewed. The range of medications that may induce or exacerbate parkinsonism spans the medical specialties. Along with neuroleptics, selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors, lithium, valproic acid, calcium channel blockers, antiarrhythmics, procholinergics, chemotherapeutics, amphotericin B, estrogens, and others have been implicated.

This review seeks to enhance clinicians' knowledge of potential medications producing iatrogenic parkinsonism and encourage their vigilance in recognizing it.