Procyclidine is also sometimes used for the treatment of
dystonia (but not
tardive dyskinesia), a rare disorder that causes abnormal muscle contraction, resulting in twisting postures of limbs, trunk, or face.
Overdose
Signs of procyclidine overdose are those of an
anticholinergic and include confusion, agitation and sleeplessness that can last up to or more than 24 hours. Pupils become dilated and unreactive to light.
Tachycardia (fast heart beat), as well as auditory and visual hallucinations have also been reported.
Other known symptoms of overdose are: clumsiness or unsteadiness, being severely drowsy, having a severely dry mouth, nose, or throat, having an altered mood or other mental changes, seizures, being short of breath or having troubled breathing, a dry and warm, flushed skin.
A suspected overdose with severe life-threatening symptoms should immediately be brought to medical attention, where reversal can be attempted with
physostigmine administered intravenously or subcutaneously.
Synthesis
Procyclidine, 1-cyclohexyl-1-phenyl-3-pyrrolidinopropan-1-ol, is synthesized in exactly the same manner as was seen for
trihexyphenidyl, except this time the linear synthesis begins with the preparation of 3-(1-pyrrolidino)propiophenone.
In an interesting variation, the ketone is first reacted with phenylmagnesium bromide.
Catalytic hydrogenation of the
carbinol thus obtained can be stopped after the reduction of only one aromatic ring.
Side Effects
Side effects include nausea, constipation, urinary retention, blurred vision, anxiety, cognitive impairment, confusion, dizziness, gingivitis, hallucination, memory loss, rash and vomiting.
[3]
^DE 1084734, Jassmann, Edgar & Pfanz, Hermann, "Verfahren zur Herstellung von tertiäeren Aminoalkoholen [Process for the preparation of tertiary amino alcohols]", published 1960-07-07, assigned to VEB Fahlberg-List Chemische und Pharmazeutische Fabriken
^Adamson DW, Barrett PA, Wilkinson S (1951). "11. Aminoalkyl tertiary carbinols and derived products. Part IV. Spasmolytics. Phenyl- and cyclohexylphenyl-carbinols". Journal of the Chemical Society (Resumed): 52.
doi:
10.1039/jr9510000052.