Anticholinergic Agents

Question 1

Anticholinergic Agents

Drug Names

Answer 1

Atropine
Dicyclomine
Glycopyrrolate
Ipratropium
Meclizine
Oxybutynin chloride
Scopolamine
Tiotropium
Tolterodine

Question 2

Indications

Answer 2

Decrease secretions
Decrease bronchospasm
Restore cardiac rate and blood pressure
Pylorospasm and hyperactive bowel
Relax uterine hypertonicity
Atropine-antidote to cholinergic crisis (overdose)

Question 3

Mechanism of Action

Answer 3

Blocks the acetylcholine receptors at the muscarinic cholinergic receptor site

Question 4

Contraindications

Answer 4

Known allergy
Any condition that could be exacerbated by blocking of the parasympathetic nervous system: glaucome, stenosing peptic ulcer disease, prostatic hypertrophy, bladder obstruction

Question 5

Adverse Effects

Answer 5

Blurred vision
Mydriasis
Photophobia
Cycloplegia
Palpitations, tachycardia
Dry mouth, altered taste perception
Urinary hesitancy and retention
Constipation
Decreased sweating; predisposition to heat exhaistion

Question 6

Drug-Drug Interactions

Answer 6

Any other drugs with anticholinergic activity: antihistamines, antiparkinsonism drugs, MAOIs, TCAs
Phenothiazines
Herbal therapies

Question 7

Assessments

Answer 7

HX & Physical exam: known allergy, glaucoma, stenosing peptic ulcer, intestinal atony, paralytic ileus, GI obstruction. severe ulcerative colitis, and toxic megacolon; prostatic hypertrophy, and bladder obstruction; cardiac arrhythmias, tachycardia, and myocardial ischemia; myasthenia gravis, pregnancy, impaired renal and hepatic function