cholinergic agonist drugs

Question 1

bethanechol (Urecholine) Pharmacologic Class

Answer 1

Muscarinic (direct-acting)

Question 2

bethanechol (Urecholine) Usual Adult Dosage Range

Answer 2

PO: 10-15 mg tid-qid (usually starts with 5-10 mg, repeating hourly until urination, max 50 mg/cycle)

Question 3

bethanechol (Urecholine) Indications

Answer 3

Postoperative and postpartum functional urinary retention

Question 4

donepezil (Aricept) Pharmacologic Class

Answer 4

Anticholinersterase (indirect-acting)

Question 5

donepezil (Aricept) Usual Adult Dosage Range

Answer 5

PO: 5-23 mg/day as a single dose

Question 6

donepezil (Aricept) Indications

Answer 6

Alzheimer’s dementia

Question 7

memantine (Namenda, Namenda XR) Pharmacologic Class

Answer 7

NMDA-receptor antagonist

Question 8

memantine (Namenda, Namenda XR) Usual Adult Dosage Range

Answer 8

PO: Initial dose is 5 mg/day; titrate by 5 mg/wk up to a target dose of 10 mg/bid (20 mg/day)

Namenda XR: 7-28 mg/day

Question 9

memantine (Namenda, Namenda XR) Indications

Answer 9

Alzheimer’s dementia

Question 10

physostigmine (Antilirium) Pharmacologic Class

Answer 10

Anticholinesterase (indirect-acting)

Question 11

physostigmine (Antilirium) Usual Adult Dosage Range

Answer 11

IM/IV: 0.5-2 mg repeated every 10-30 min if needed

Question 12

physostigmine (Antilirium) Indications

Answer 12

Reversal of anticholinergic drug effects and tricyclic antidepressant overdose

Question 13

pyridostigmine (Mestinon) Pharmacologic Class

Answer 13

Anticholinesterase (indirect-acting)

Question 14

pyridostigmine (Mestinon) Usual Adult Dosage Range

Answer 14

PO: 600 mg/day in divided doses

IV: 0.1-0.25 mg/kg/dose

Question 15

pyridostigmine (Mestinon) Indications

Answer 15

PO: Myasthenia Gravis

IV: Antidote for neuromuscular blocker toxicity