Antidyskinetics are used to treat Parkinson's disease, sometimes referred to as ``shaking palsy.'' By improving muscle control and reducing stiffness, this medicine allows more normal movements of the body as the disease symptoms are reduced. It is also used to control severe reactions to certain medicines such as reserpine (e.g., Serpasil) (medicine to control high blood pressure) or phenothiazines, chlorprothixene (e.g., Taractan), thiothixene (e.g., Navane), loxapine (e.g., Loxitane), and haloperidol (e.g., Haldol) (medicines for nervous, mental, and emotional conditions).

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For antidyskinetics, the following should be considered:

Allergies-Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to antidyskinetics. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy-Studies on effects in pregnancy have not been done in either humans or animals. However, antidyskinetics have not been shown to cause problems in humans.

Breast-feeding-It is not known if antidyskinetics pass into breast milk. Although most medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, many of them may be used safely while breast-feeding. Mothers who are taking these medicines and who wish to breast-feed should discuss this with their doctor.

Since antidyskinetics tend to decrease the secretions of the body, it is possible that the flow of breast milk may be reduced in some patients.

Children-Children may be especially sensitive to the effects of antidyskinetics. This may increase the chance of side effects during treatment.

Older adults-Agitation, confusion, disorientation, hallucinations, memory loss, and mental changes are more likely to occur in elderly patients, who are usually more sensitive to the effects of antidyskinetics.

Other medicines-Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases 2 different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking an antidyskinetic, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Anticholinergics (medicine for abdominal or stomach spasms or cramps) or
• Central nervous system (CNS) depressants (medicine that causes drowsiness) or
• Tricyclic antidepressants (medicine for depression)-Using these medicines together with antidyskinetics may result in additive effects, increasing the chance of unwanted effects

Other medical problems-The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of antidyskinetics. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Difficult urination or
• Enlarged prostate or
• Glaucoma or
• Heart or blood vessel disease or
• High blood pressure or
• Intestinal blockage or
• Myasthenia gravis or
• Uncontrolled movements of hands, mouth, or tongue-Antidyskinetics may make the condition worse

• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease-Higher blood levels of the antidyskinetics may result, increasing the chance of side effects