Anticholinergics
Anticholinergic agents
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Methscopolamine. Other drugs include aminopentamide, propantheline and isopropamide, which are also effective as antiemetics
Mechanism of action
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Anticholinergics inhibit propulsive and non propulsive gastrointestinal motility.
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They also inhibit normal, cholinergically mediated basal secretions of the gastrointestinal tract.
Uses
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Anticholinergic agents may be used to treat diarrhea: however, they are of questionable benefit in this capacity because diarrhea is more commonly associated with hypomotility than hypermotility
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Anticholinergic agents may be used to treat gastrointestinal spasm
Administration
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Aminopentamide is administered orally, intramuscularly or subcutaneously every 8-12 hours
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Propantheline is administered orally every 8 hours
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Isopropamide is administered orally every 12 hours
Adverse effects
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Adverse effects of anticholinergics include xerostomia, xerophthalmia, loss of visual accommodation, tachycardia, urine retention, paralytic ileus and constipation.
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Anticholinergics are contraindicated in patients with glaucoma.
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Last modified: Wednesday, 25 April 2012, 10:30 AM