Drug-induced parkinsonism

BACKGROUND - Drug-induced parkinsonism is common but often unrecognized. In addition to neuroleptics, many medications of diverse chemical nature may induce or exacerbate parkinsonism REVIEW SUMMARY - Reports in the literature of drug-induced parkinsonism or of an underlying parkinsonian disorder exacerbated by a medication were located using MEDLINE, and pertinent bibliographies were reviewed. The range of medications that may induce or exacerbate parkinsonism spans the medical specialties. Along with neuroleptics, selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors, lithium, valproic acid, calcium channel blockers, antiarrhythmics, procholinergics, chemotherapeutics, amphotericin B, estrogens, and others have been implicated. CONCLUSIONS - This review seeks to enhance clinicians' knowledge of potential medications producing iatrogenic parkinsonism and encourage their vigilance in recognizing it.