Anticholinergics

ANTICHOLINERGICS

Anticholinergic agents

  • Methscopolamine. Other drugs include aminopentamide, propantheline and isopropamide, which are also effective as antiemetics

Mechanism of action

  • Anticholinergics inhibit propulsive and non propulsive gastrointestinal motility.
  • They also inhibit normal, cholinergically mediated basal secretions of the gastrointestinal tract.

Uses

  • 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
  • Anticholinergic agents may be used to treat gastrointestinal spasm

Administration

  • Aminopentamide is administered orally, intramuscularly or subcutaneously every 8-12 hours
  • Propantheline is administered orally every 8 hours
  • Isopropamide is administered orally every 12 hours

Adverse effects

  • Adverse effects of anticholinergics include xerostomia, xerophthalmia, loss of visual accommodation, tachycardia, urine retention, paralytic ileus and constipation.
  • Anticholinergics are contraindicated in patients with glaucoma.
Last modified: Wednesday, 25 April 2012, 10:30 AM