Biperiden Hydrochloride and Ergotamine Tartrate

• Generic Name: biperiden
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Akineton

Adjunctive treatment of all forms of parkinsonian syndrome; more efficacious in postencephalic and idiopathic cases than in arteriosclerotic types.

Relieves muscle rigidity, reduces sweating and salivation, improves gait, and to a lesser extent, tremor.

Control of extrapyramidal reactions induced by neuroleptic agents (e.g., phenothiazines).

• Generic Name: ergotamine
• Dosage Forms: n.a.
• Other Brand Names: Ergomar

Prevention or abortion of vascular headaches (e.g., migraine, cluster headaches), when used alone or in fixed combination with caffeine. Should not be used for chronic daily management of vascular headaches.

Generally not preferred for terminating acute cluster headaches; onset of action is slower than that of other therapies (e.g., sumatriptan, oxygen).

Has been used for short-term (e.g., up to 3 weeks) prophylaxis of episodic cluster headaches to suppress a series of attacks and reduce duration of cluster period. Prophylactic administration at bedtime may be particularly useful in selected patients with nocturnal cluster attacks.

Ineffective in the treatment of muscle contraction headaches.