Anticholinergic

Jump to navigation Jump to search

WikiDoc Resources for Anticholinergic

Articles

Most recent articles on Anticholinergic

Most cited articles on Anticholinergic

Review articles on Anticholinergic

Articles on Anticholinergic in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ

Media

Powerpoint slides on Anticholinergic

Images of Anticholinergic

Photos of Anticholinergic

Podcasts & MP3s on Anticholinergic

Videos on Anticholinergic

Evidence Based Medicine

Cochrane Collaboration on Anticholinergic

Bandolier on Anticholinergic

TRIP on Anticholinergic

Clinical Trials

Ongoing Trials on Anticholinergic at Clinical Trials.gov

Trial results on Anticholinergic

Clinical Trials on Anticholinergic at Google

Guidelines / Policies / Govt

US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Anticholinergic

NICE Guidance on Anticholinergic

NHS PRODIGY Guidance

FDA on Anticholinergic

CDC on Anticholinergic

Books

Books on Anticholinergic

News

Anticholinergic in the news

Be alerted to news on Anticholinergic

News trends on Anticholinergic

Commentary

Blogs on Anticholinergic

Definitions

Definitions of Anticholinergic

Patient Resources / Community

Patient resources on Anticholinergic

Discussion groups on Anticholinergic

Patient Handouts on Anticholinergic

Directions to Hospitals Treating Anticholinergic

Risk calculators and risk factors for Anticholinergic

Healthcare Provider Resources

Symptoms of Anticholinergic

Causes & Risk Factors for Anticholinergic

Diagnostic studies for Anticholinergic

Treatment of Anticholinergic

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

CME Programs on Anticholinergic

International

Anticholinergic en Espanol

Anticholinergic en Francais

Business

Anticholinergic in the Marketplace

Patents on Anticholinergic

Experimental / Informatics

List of terms related to Anticholinergic

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

An anticholinergic agent is a member of a class of pharmaceutical compounds (such as Dicyclomine) which serve to reduce the effects mediated by acetylcholine in the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system.

Anticholinergics are typically reversible competitive inhibitors of one of the two types of acetylcholine receptors, and are classified according to the receptors that are affected:

Effects

When a significant amount of anticholinergic is taken into the body, a toxidrome known as acute anticholinergic syndrome may result. This may happen accidentally or intentionally as a form of recreational drug use. This class of drug is usually considered the least "fun" by experienced drug users, possibly due to the lack of euphoria caused by anticholinergics. Because most users do not enjoy the experience, they do not use it again, or very rarely. Risk of addiction is low in the anticholinergic class. Effects are usually more pronounced in the elderly, due to the decrease of acetylcholine production associated with age.

Possible effects of anticholinergics include:

Possible effects in the central nervous system resemble those associated with delirium, and may include:

  • Confusion
  • Disorientation
  • Agitation
  • Respiratory depression
  • Short-term memory loss
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Wandering thoughts; inability to sustain a train of thought
  • Incoherent speech
  • Wakeful myoclonic jerking
  • Unusual sensitivity to sudden sounds
  • Illogical thinking
  • Photophobia
  • Visual disturbances
    • Periodic flashes of light
    • Periodic changes in visual field
    • Visual snow
    • Restricted or "tunnel vision"
  • Visual, auditory, or other sensory hallucinations
    • Warping or waving of surfaces and edges
    • Textured surfaces
    • "Dancing" lines; "spiders", insects
    • Lifelike objects indistinguishable from reality
  • Rarely: seizures, coma and death

Acute anticholinergic syndrome is completely reversible and subsides once all of the toxin has been excreted. Ordinarily, no specific treatment is indicated. However, in extreme cases, especially those that involves severe distortions of mental state, a reversible cholinergic agent such as physostigmine may be used.

Plant sources

The most common plants containing anticholinergic alkaloids are:

  • Atropa belladonna (Deadly Nightshade)
  • Mandragora officinarum (Mandrake)
  • Hyoscamus niger (Henbane)
  • Datura species (Datura)

Abuse

Some drugs, such as hydrocodone, are mixed with small amounts of an anticholinergic, such as Homatropine Methylbromide to discourage abuse.


Template:Drugs for functional gastrointestinal disorders

Template:Asthma and copd rx Template:Mydriatics and cycloplegics Template:Receptor agonists and antagonists


Template:WikiDoc Sources

ar:مضادات الكولين ca:Anticolinèrgic de:Anticholinergikum sk:Anticholinergikum sv:Antikolinergika