Autonomic Drugs (Cholinomimetics)

Question 1

Bethanechol (direct agonist)

Answer 1

Postoperative ileus, neurogenic ileus and urinary retention.

Activates bowel and bladder smooth muscle

Question 2

Carbachol (direct agonist)

Answer 2

Glaucoma, pupillary constriction and increased aqueous outflow

Question 3

Pilocarpine (direct agonist)

Answer 3

Glaucoma, pupillary constriction, increased aqueous outflow, potent stimulator of sweat, tears and saliva.

Question 4

Methacholine (direct agonist)

Answer 4

Challenge test for diagnosis of asthma.

Question 5

Neostigmine (indirect agonist)

Answer 5

Postoperative and neurogenic ileus, urinary retention, myasthenia gravis, reversal of neuromuscular junction blockade (post-op).

Question 6

Pyridostigmine (indirect agonist)

Answer 6

Reversal of NMJ block, myasthenia gravis (long acting), does not penetrate CNS.

Question 7

Physostigmine (indirect agonist)

Answer 7

Anticholinergic toxicity [i.e. atropine overdose] (crosses BBB), glaucoma

Question 8

Drugs for Alzheimers

Answer 8

Donepezil, Rivastigmine, Galantamine (indirect agonists)

Question 9

Edrophonium (indirect agonist)

Answer 9

Diagnosis of myasthenia gravis (historically), [ileus]