Veterinary Neuropharmacology

CLASSIFICATION OF CHOLINERGIC DRUGS

Directly acting drugs ( act directly either on muscarinic or nicotinic  receptors)

• Choline esters: Acetylcholine, Methacholine, Carbachol, Bethanechol
• Alkaloids: Muscarine, Pilocarpine, Arecoline

Indirectly acting drugs (act by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase and thereby increasing the concentration of Ach at parasympathetic nerve endings)

• Reversible inhibitors of cholinesterase: Physostigmine, Neostigmine, Edrophonium .
• Irreversible inhibitors of cholinesterase: Organophosphorus compounds like  Di-isopropyl flurophosphate, Tetra ethylpyrophosphate, Parathion, Malathion, Sarin etc.,