What medications can cause anticholinergic toxicity?
Examples of classes of medications with anticholinergic properties include antihistamines (eg, diphenhydramine), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs; eg, amitriptyline), sleep aids (eg, doxylamine), cold preparations, scopolamine (hyoscine), and tainted illicit street drugs (eg, heroin "cut" with scopolamine).
What causes anticholinergic poisoning?
Anticholinergic syndrome may be caused by intentional overdose, inadvertent ingestion, medical noncompliance, or geriatric polypharmacy. Systemic effects also have resulted from topical eye drops. Anticholinergic syndrome commonly follows the ingestion of a wide variety of prescription and over-the-counter medications.
What does anticholinergic do to the body?
Anticholinergic drugs block the action of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. This inhibits nerve impulses responsible for involuntary muscle movements and various bodily functions. These drugs can treat a variety of conditions, from overactive bladder to chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder.
What are signs and symptoms of anticholinergic toxicity?
Clinical features include TACHYCARDIA; HYPERTHERMIA; MYDRIASIS, dry skin and dry mucous membranes, decreased bowel sounds and urinary retention in peripheral anticholinergic syndrome; and HALLUCINATIONS; PSYCHOSES; SEIZURES; and COMA in central anticholinergic syndrome.
How do you treat anticholinergic toxicity?
The antidote for anticholinergic toxicity is physostigmine salicylate. Physostigmine is the only reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor capable of directly antagonizing the CNS manifestations of anticholinergic toxicity; it is an uncharged tertiary amine that efficiently crosses the blood-brain barrier.
Why do anticholinergics cause dementia?
How do anticholinergics affect dementia risk? A. Anticholinergic drugs act by blocking acetylcholine, a chemical involved in nervous system functions. When the drugs block these functions in the brain, it can cause cognitive changes.
What are four typical anticholinergic side effects?
Typical symptoms include dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, bowel obstruction, dilated pupils, blurred vision, increased heart rate, and decreased sweating (Table 1).
What is an anticholinergic in simple terms?
Anticholinergic: Opposing the actions of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. Anticholinergic drugs inhibit the transmission of parasympathetic nerve impulses, thereby reducing spasms of smooth muscles (for example, muscles in the bladder).
Is ibuprofen an anticholinergic?
Some commonly used anticholinergic drug brands include Benadryl, Tylenol PM, Advil PM, Dimetapp, Dramamine, Paxil, Unisom, the opioid pain medication Demerol, and the bladder drug Vesicare.
Can anticholinergic effects be reversed?
The general view is that anticholinergic-induced cognitive impairment is reversible upon medication discontinuation. However, several investigators have reported that anticholinergic medications may be associated with increased risk for sustained cognitive deficits such as mild cognitive impairment or dementia.
Is Benadryl an anticholinergic?
Like other first-generation (older) antihistamines, Benadryl can make you very sleepy. For that reason, it is also used as a sleep aid. Additionally, Benadryl is classified as an anticholinergic. Other drugs in this class are prescribed to treat mental health disorders and bladder disease.
Are antihistamines anticholinergic?
Anticholinergic drugs include some antihistamines, tricyclic antidepressants, medications to control overactive bladder, and drugs to relieve the symptoms of Parkinson's disease.