Anticholinergic drugs block the action of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that transmits messages in the nervous system. These drugs can be used to treat a variety of conditions, but they can also cause side effects due to their mechanism of action. There are many medications with anticholinergic properties, and they span a variety of therapeutic classes.
Here are some commonly used medications and classes of drugs with anticholinergic effects:
- Antimuscarinic drugs for overactive bladder:
- Oxybutynin (Ditropan)
- Solifenacin (Vesicare)
- First-generation antihistamines:
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
- Promethazine (Phenergan)
- Tricyclic antidepressants:
- Amitriptyline (Endep)
- Nortriptyline (Allegron)
- Doxepin (Deptran, Sinquan)
- Imipramine (Tofranil)
- Antipsychotics:
- Chlorpromazine (Largactil)
- Clozapine (Clozaril)
- Olanzapine (Zyprexa)
- Anti-Parkinson drugs:
- Benztropine (Cogentin)
- GIT antispasmodics:
- Hyoscine butylbromide (Buscopan)
- Some medications used for COPD and asthma:
- Ipratropium (Atrovent)
- Tiotropium (Spiriva)
Patients taking medications with anticholinergic properties may experience side effects such as
- dry mouth,
- constipation,
- blurred vision (from mydriasis),
- urinary retention,
- confusion,
- memory impairment, and
- tachycardia.
In older adults, long-term use of strong anticholinergic medications has been associated with an increased risk of dementia.