title: Trihexyphenidyl (Artane): a Brazilian study of its abuse.
abstract: In Brazil, the medicinal misuse of trihexyphenidyl (Artane) has been observed among several segments of society. The present study was conducted in the city of São Paulo during 2002 to characterize this abuse. A sample of 21 users and 16 ex-users was interviewed using qualitative methodology; the subjects were single, unemployed, male polydrug users, who used trihexyphenidyl in order to attain states of mental alterations, mainly hallucinations and deliriums. Trihexyphenidyl is consumed in association with alcohol, other licit drugs (benzodiazepines), or illicit drugs, impairing cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and learning, intervening with some activities of users' daily life.
authors.affiliation: Center of Information about Psychotropic Drugs (CEBRID), Department of Psychobiology of the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil. solange@psicobio.epm.br
authors.forename: Solange Aparecida
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Nappo
authors.forename: Lúcio Garcia
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Zila van der Meer
authors.initials: Zv
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Elisaldo de Araújo
authors.initials: Ede A
authors.lastname: Carlini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D014282:Trihexyphenidyl / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D006213:Hallucinogens; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D014282:Trihexyphenidyl