Rosh Psychiatry Board Practice Exam

Which treatment option is indicated for a patient experiencing muscle stiffness due to haloperidol?

1. Benztropine

2. Diphenhydramine

3. Valbenazine

4. Dantrolene

The correct answer is: Benztropine

The correct treatment for a patient experiencing muscle stiffness due to haloperidol is benztropine. This medication is an anticholinergic agent that is often prescribed to manage extrapyramidal symptoms, which can include muscle stiffness and rigidity, as a side effect of antipsychotic medications like haloperidol. Benztropine works by restoring the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain, particularly by antagonizing the action of acetylcholine, which is often dysregulated in the context of antipsychotic-induced movement disorders. This can help alleviate symptoms such as muscle stiffness, bradykinesia, and other forms of dystonia experienced by patients. Other options, while potentially helpful in different contexts, are not the first-line or most appropriate choices for this specific type of muscle stiffness. Diphenhydramine, an antihistamine with anticholinergic properties, can also address some extrapyramidal symptoms but is not as commonly used as benztropine for this purpose. Valbenazine is primarily indicated for the treatment of tardive dyskinesia, which is a different condition that occurs after prolonged use of antipsychotics. Dantrolene is used more for the treatment of malignant hyperthermia