adverse effects of a cholinergic-blocking medication
What are Anticholinergics? Anticholinergics are a class of drugs that block the action of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain. They are used to treat diseases like asthma, incontinence, gastrointestinal cramps, and muscular spasms. They are also prescribed for depression and sleep disorders. The drugs help to block involuntary movements of the muscles associated with these diseases. They also balance the production of dopamine and acetylcholine in the body. Anticholinergics can also be used to treat certain types of toxic poisoning, and are sometimes used as an aid to anesthesia. Diagnosis of Cholinergic Blocking Drugs. Planning of Cholinergic Blocking Drugs. Implementation of Cholinergic Blocking Drugs. Check drug compatability before injection, provide frequent mouth care, oral rinses, force fluids, chew sugar-free gum or hard candy. Ophthalmic route apply to inner canthus. Stimulation of the cholinergic system (also known as the parasympathetic nervous system) causes vasodilatation, constriction of pupils in the eyes, secretion of sweat, saliva and tears, slow heart rate, mucus secretion in the respiratory tract and constriction of bronchioles. Actions and uses. Cholinergic drugs are medications that produce the same effects as the parasympathetic nervous system, especially imitating acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is the most common neurohormone of the parasympathetic nervous system, it is responsible for the everyday work of the body. Assessment of Cholinergic Blocking Drugs. Obtain complete med Hx, list of OTC's & Herbals, and Head-to-toe. baseline data will be used to compare for therapeutic effectiveness. AE's-confusion, delirium, constipation, blurred vision, and tachycardia. A drug may be classified by the chemical type of the active ingredient or by the way it is used to treat a particular condition. Each drug can be classified into one or more drug classes. Cholinergic agonists mimic the actions of acetylcholine. Cholinergic transmission involves the neurotransmitter acetylcholine being released from nerve fibers, binding to designated receptors on other cholinergic nerve fibers and passing on the message to bring about a response. 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. These drugs are also widely used in surgery, both to reduce the risk of urinary retention, and to reverse the effects of the muscle relaxant drugs that are used in surgery. Cholinergic drugs are also used in control of glaucoma, a disease that is caused by increased pressure inside the eye. The possible adverse effects of cholinergic drugs are slow heart beat, possibly leading to cardiac arrest, muscle weakness, muscle cramps, and muscle pain, convulsions, weak breathing, inability to breath, increased stomach acid and saliva, nausea and vomiting. The effects of the cholinergic drugs are to produce the same effects as stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system. These effects include slowing of the heartbeat, increases in normal secretions including the digestive acids of the stomach, saliva and tears.
Slow heart beat, possibly leading to cardiac arrest, muscle weakness, muscle cramps, and muscle pain, convulsions, weak breathing, inability to breath, increased stomach acid and saliva, nausea and vomiting.