Which medication is used to help reduce extrapyramidal symptoms caused by antipsychotic therapy?

Which medication is used to help reduce extrapyramidal symptoms caused by antipsychotic therapy?

• A. Diazepam
• B. Ranitidine
• C. Lorazepam
• D. Benztropine

Answer: (D)

Extrapyramidal symptoms from antipsychotics come from reduced dopamine signaling in the nigrostriatal pathway, which leaves acetylcholine activity relatively unopposed in the striatum. An anticholinergic medication like benztropine counteracts this imbalance by blocking muscarinic receptors, reducing acetylcholine’s effects, and thereby alleviating symptoms such as dystonia, drug-induced parkinsonism, and sometimes akathisia. This is why benztropine is the best choice. Diazepam or lorazepam are sedatives that may ease anxiety or muscle tension but don’t address the underlying cholinergic-dopaminergic imbalance, and ranitidine has no role in treating extrapyramidal symptoms.

Extrapyramidal symptoms from antipsychotics come from reduced dopamine signaling in the nigrostriatal pathway, which leaves acetylcholine activity relatively unopposed in the striatum. An anticholinergic medication like benztropine counteracts this imbalance by blocking muscarinic receptors, reducing acetylcholine’s effects, and thereby alleviating symptoms such as dystonia, drug-induced parkinsonism, and sometimes akathisia. This is why benztropine is the best choice. Diazepam or lorazepam are sedatives that may ease anxiety or muscle tension but don’t address the underlying cholinergic-dopaminergic imbalance, and ranitidine has no role in treating extrapyramidal symptoms.