Diagnosing Parkinsonism
When a diagnosis of PD is considered, it is imperative for the physician to exclude pharmacologically-induced Parkinsonism. Many drugs may produce parkinsonian extrapyramidal effects (Table 1).
Learning Bite
The extrapyramidal features of PD are referred to as Parkinsonism. They are often caused by drugs.
| Medications that may produce Parkinsonism |
|---|
| Phenothiazines |
| Butyrophenones |
| Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) e.g. citalopram or fluoxetine |
| Amiodarone |
| Diltiazem |
| Metoclopramide |
| Sodium valproate |
Table 1 Medications that may produce Parkinsonism