Pharmacological effects
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Cardiovascular system
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There is little effect on blood pressure.
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In animals that are exposed to high doses of acetylcholine, atropine can increase the blood pressure that has been reduced.
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High doses cause dilatation of cutaneous beds producing “atropine flush.”
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An increase in the heart rate with the degree of tachycardia depending on the vagal tone, which is high in horses and dogs, producing marked effects.
Gastrointestinal tract
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Atropine brings about a reduction in the salivary and intestinal mucosal secretions.
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Reduction of salivary secretions leads to dry mouth.
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Very high doses decrease gastric secretions.
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At therapeutic doses of atropine the tone and motility of gastrointestinal tract from stomach to colon is decreased and reduce the spasm of the gastrointestinal tract.
Bronchioles
Eyes
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Mydriasis and photophobia are noticed.
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By acting on the ciliary muscle it brings about paralysis of accommodation and cyclopegia.
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Since the drug induces an increase in the intraocular pressure, it is contraindicated in the presence of glaucoma.
Urinary tract
Sweat glands
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Anhydrosis is noticed in animals that sweat. In large doses it may bring about hyperpyrexia as sweat secretion is reduced.
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In equine, sweating is controlled by adrenergic mechanisms and hence anhydrosis is not noticed.
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These drugs have least effect in species that do not use cholinergic sweating as an important component of thermoregulation.
On central nervous system
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In therapeutic doses there is minimal effect. In toxic doses mania and excitement are observed in domestic animals followed by depression and coma.
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In human beings hallucination and disorientation are noticed. Scopolamine has more effects on the central nervous system than atropine.
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Last modified: Sunday, 16 October 2011, 11:10 AM
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