Drug-Induced Parkinsonism Associated with Dysphagia and Aspiration: A Brief Report

Idiopathic Parkinsonism is a well-recognized cause of dysphagia and resultant aspiration. Symptoms and signs attributable to dopaminergic underactivity after administration of antipsychotic medication are commonly seen in elderly patients. We report a case of a 74-year-old woman, without prior symptoms of Parkinsonism or dysphagia, who presented with the temporal association of both after administration of trifluoperazine hydrochloride. Dysphagia is a potentially life-threatening complication of drug-induced parkinsonism. Its early recognition allows treatment by simple medical, physical, and dietary manipulations.