anticholinergic
Blocks nervous transmission
Anticholinergic describes drugs or effects that block the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the nervous system.
These medications treat conditions from motion sickness to overactive bladder, but cause side effects like dry mouth, blurred vision, and confusion—especially dangerous in elderly patients.
The anticholinergic effects of older antihistamines make them sedating.
Insufficient saliva production
- blurred visionUnclear visual perception
- constipationDifficult, infrequent waste elimination
- tachycardiaExcessively fast pulse
- hyperthermiaDangerously elevated body temperature
flushing · photophobia · ileus · thirst
Acute mental disorientation
- confusionMental disorientation or bewilderment
- dementiaChronic cognitive impairment
- memory impairmentDiminished ability to recall
- disorientationLoss of spatial awareness
agitation · hallucination · sedation · drowsiness · brain fog · elderly · geriatric · polypharmacy
Harmful excess intake
- hyperthermiaDangerously elevated body temperature
- agitationDisturbed, restless state
- seizureForcible taking or convulsion
- comaUnwakeable unconsciousness
Agent preventing muscle cramps
- bronchodilatorMedication widening lung passages
- antiemeticPrevents nausea and vomiting
- overactive bladderUrinary urgency condition
- motion sicknessNausea from perceived movement
COPD · asthma · urinary incontinence · drooling · preoperative · anesthesia · dystonia · bradycardia
Signal-receiving molecule
- blockadeSealing off a place
- neurotransmitterSynaptic chemical messenger
- parasympatheticNerve system promoting rest
- antagonistOne who opposes another
binding · inhibition · synaptic · ganglionic · nicotinic · signal · nerve · pathway
Sedating antihistamine compound
- promethazineSedating antihistamine medication
- chlorpheniramineAntihistamine for allergy symptoms
- amitriptylineTricyclic mood disorder medication
dry mouth
Insufficient saliva production
- blurred visionUnclear visual perception
- constipationDifficult, infrequent waste elimination
- tachycardiaExcessively fast pulse
hyperthermia · flushing · photophobia · ileus · thirst
delirium
Acute mental disorientation
- confusionMental disorientation or bewilderment
- dementiaChronic cognitive impairment
- memory impairmentDiminished ability to recall
disorientation · agitation · hallucination · sedation · drowsiness · brain fog · elderly · geriatric · polypharmacy · cognitive decline
overdose
Harmful excess intake
- hyperthermiaDangerously elevated body temperature
- agitationDisturbed, restless state
- seizureForcible taking or convulsion
antispasmodic
Agent preventing muscle cramps
- bronchodilatorMedication widening lung passages
- antiemeticPrevents nausea and vomiting
- overactive bladderUrinary urgency condition
motion sickness · COPD · asthma · urinary incontinence · drooling · preoperative · anesthesia · dystonia · bradycardia · secretions
receptor
Signal-receiving molecule
- blockadeSealing off a place
- neurotransmitterSynaptic chemical messenger
- parasympatheticNerve system promoting rest
antagonist · binding · inhibition · synaptic · ganglionic · nicotinic · signal · nerve · pathway
diphenhydramine
Sedating antihistamine compound
- promethazineSedating antihistamine medication
- chlorpheniramineAntihistamine for allergy symptoms
- amitriptylineTricyclic mood disorder medication
anticholinergicparasympathomimetic
Activates rest-digest pathways