Efficacy of anticholinergic prophylaxis for neuroleptic-induced acute dystonia

The authors analyzed data from nine studies comparing the incidence of acute dystonia induced by neuroleptic agents with and without concomitant use of anticholinergic agents. Anticholinergic agents reduced the rate of dystonia by 1.9-fold in all patients treated with different neuroleptics and by 5- to 8-fold in patients treated with high-potency neuroleptics. In addition, the incidence of dystonia and the efficacy of anticholinergic prophylaxis were related inversely to age. These results support the efficacy of anticholinergic agents in preventing neuroleptic-induced dystonia, particularly in young male patients treated with high-potency neuroleptics.