Veterinary Neuropharmacology

PHARMACOKINETICS

•  Atropine is lipid soluble compound and hence is absorbed by all routes of administration. It is well distributed through out the body including CNS, milk and placenta.
• Atropine is metabolized in liver and excreted in urine. About 30- 50% of absorbed atropine is excreted unchanged in urine.

Side Effects or Adverse Effects

• Depending on the dose, atropine may produce dry mouth, dysphagia, constipation, increased thirst, mydriasis, and tachycardia and urine retention.
• In addition, the CNS effects like ataxia, restlessness, seizures, respiratory depression, coma and death are also produced.

Hyoscine (scopolamine)

• Hyoscine is the alkaloid obtained from the shrub Hyoscyamus niger (herbane)
• Hyoscine is also a competitive antagonist of muscarinic receptors like atropine. But unlike atropine hyoscine is a CNS depressant and produces drowsiness, euphoria, fatigue and sleep. It also produces a good anti motion sickness action.