Two medicines, side by side
Trihexyphenidyl vs benztropine
Trihexyphenidyl and benztropine are both labeled for parkinson's disease. Drugs@FDA records approvals of trihexyphenidyl since 1949 and of benztropine since 1954. Pharmacies paid $0.0884 per trihexyphenidyl 2 mg tablet and $0.0753 per benztropine mes 1 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the trihexyphenidyl FDA label on DailyMed (effective October 25, 2019); the benztropine FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 9, 2026).
Highlights of the trihexyphenidyl record
Trihexyphenidyl (Artane) · label of October 25, 2019
Used for
From the label: indicationsTrihexyphenidyl HCl is indicated as an adjunct in the treatment of all forms of parkinsonism (postencephalitic, arteriosclerotic, and idiopathic). It is often useful as adjuvant therapy when treating these forms of parkinsonism with levodopa. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- May 13, 1949
- Generic labelers
- 8 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0884 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
Highlights of the benztropine record
Benztropine (Cogentin) · label of January 9, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsBenztropine mesylate tablets are indicated for use as an adjunct in the therapy of all forms of parkinsonism. Useful also in the control of extrapyramidal disorders (except tardive dyskinesia – see PRECAUTIONS ) due to neuroleptic drugs (e.g., phenothiazines).
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- March 5, 1954
- Generic labelers
- 23 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0753 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- A presentation being discontinued
- Recalls
- 3
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Trihexyphenidyl label of October 25, 2019, Benztropine label of January 9, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do trihexyphenidyl and benztropine differ on the record?
Generics: trihexyphenidyl since 1974; benztropine since 1985 (Drugs@FDA).
| Trihexyphenidyl | Benztropine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Parkinson's disease | Parkinson's disease |
| Pharmacologic class | n/a | Anticholinergic, Antihistamine |
| How it works (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | n/a | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | May 13, 1949 | March 5, 1954 |
| First generic approved | November 26, 1974 | April 11, 1985 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 8 labelers | 23 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0884 per tablet (Trihexyphenidyl 2 mg tablet) | $0.0753 per tablet (Benztropine mes 1 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +17% | -4% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 3 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 995 | 7,287 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to trihexyphenidyl
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions