Cholinergic Agents: Muscarinic Agonists

Question 1

What does the muscarinic agonist acetylcholine do?

Answer 1

It is the endogenous neurotransmitter for muscarinic and nicotinic receptors: promotes parasympathetic response, also refered to as cholinergic. The half life is too short to use therapeutically

Question 2

What does the muscarinic agonist bethanechol do?

Answer 2

Bethanechol is used for bladder atony. It increases the tone of urinary bladder muscle

Question 3

What does the muscarinic agonist pilocarpine do?

Answer 3

Pilocarpine is used to treat glaucoma. The muscarinic actions (parasympathetic) help to improve ocular drainage due to the contraction of the ciliary muscle within the eye.

special considerations: do not use with patients with GI/urinary obstructions: will increase the urge to go