Background: Anticholinergic drugs are used for the treatment of neuroleptic-induced extrapyramidal symptoms. Although these drugs have proven efficacy in ameliorating extrapyramidal symptoms in the short term, its longer term use remains controversial.
Method: Publications on anticholinergic drug treatment for extrapyramidal symptoms were identified using Medline search and cross reference search was carried out for relevant articles on this topic.
Results: Literature suggests that although anticholinergic drugs are useful in the treatment of extrapyramidal symptoms, its use as a prophylactic agent remains controversial. Furthermore, there is no agreement on its long term use.
Conclusions: Although the recommendation is to review the need for anticholinergic drugs after three months, it may not always be possible to do so. The study of risk factors for development of extrapyramidal symptoms should guide initiation, prophylactic use and maintenance treatment with anticholinergic drugs.