Anticholinergic

Anticholinergic
The action of certain medications that inhibit the transmission of parasympathetic nerve impulses and thereby reduce spasms of smooth muscle (such as that, for example, in the bladder).
* * *
Antagonistic to the action of parasympathetic or other cholinergic nerve fibers ( e.g., atropine).

* * *

an·ti·cho·lin·er·gic -.kō-lə-'nər-jik adj opposing or blocking the physiological action of acetylcholine
anticholinergic n a drug having an anticholinergic action

* * *

adj.
inhibiting the action of acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter that conveys information in the parasympathetic nervous system. Anticholinergic drugs block the effects of certain (muscarinic) receptors; hence they are also called antimuscarinic drugs. The actions of these drugs include relaxation of smooth muscle, decreased secretion of saliva, sweat, and digestive juices, and dilation of the pupil of the eye. atropine and similar drugs have these effects; they are used in the treatment of gut spasms (e.g. propantheline) and of parkinsonism (e.g. trihexyphenidyl, benzatropine), as bronchodilators (e.g. ipratropium, theophylline), and as mydriatic. Characteristic side-effects include dry mouth, thirst, blurred vision, dry skin, increased heart rate, and difficulty in urination.

* * *

an·ti·cho·lin·er·gic (an″te-) (an″ti-ko″lin-urґjik) [anti- + cholinergic] 1. blocking the passage of impulses through the parasympathetic nerves. 2. an agent that blocks the passage of impulses through the parasympathetic nerves. Called also parasympatholytic. Cf. antiadrenergic.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • anticholinergic — [an΄tī kō΄lin ʉr′jik; an΄tēkō΄lin ʉr′jik, an΄tikō΄lin ʉr′jik] adj. [ ANTI + CHOLINERGIC] having the ability to retard or block the activity of organs that receive their nerve impulses through the parasympathetic nervous system by opposing the… …   English World dictionary

  • Anticholinergic — An anticholinergic agent is a substance that blocks the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the central and the peripheral nervous system. An example of an anticholinergic is dicycloverine, and the classic example is atropine. Anticholinergics are… …   Wikipedia

  • anticholinergic — I noun a substance that opposes or blocks the action of acetylcholine • Syn: ↑anticholinergic drug • Hypernyms: ↑medicine, ↑medication, ↑medicament, ↑medicinal drug • …   Useful english dictionary

  • anticholinergic — adjective Date: 1942 opposing or blocking the physiologic action of acetylcholine • anticholinergic noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • anticholinergic — /an ti koh leuh nerr jik, kol euh /, Biochem., Pharm. adj. 1. of or pertaining to a substance that opposes the effects of acetylcholine; interfering with the passage of parasympathetic nerve impulses. Cf. cholinolytic. n. 2. an anticholinergic… …   Universalium

  • anticholinergic — an•ti•cho•lin•er•gic [[t]ˌæn tɪˌkoʊ ləˈnɜr dʒɪk, ˌkɒl ə [/t]] adj. 1) phl biochem. pha of or pertaining to a substance that opposes the effects of acetylcholine; interfering with the passage of parasympathetic nerve impulses 2) biochem. pha an… …   From formal English to slang

  • anticholinergic — /ˌæntikɒləˈnɜdʒɪk/ (say .anteekoluh nerjik) adjective 1. antagonistic to acetylcholine. –noun 2. an anticholinergic substance. {anti + cholin(e) + ergic} …  

  • anticholinergic Medicine — [ˌantɪˌkəʊlɪ nə:dʒɪk] adjective inhibiting the action of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. noun an anticholinergic drug …   English new terms dictionary

  • anticholinergic drug — noun a substance that opposes or blocks the action of acetylcholine • Syn: ↑anticholinergic • Derivationally related forms: ↑anticholinergic (for: ↑anticholinergic) • Hypernyms: ↑medicine, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • anticholinergic poisoning — poisoning caused by overdosage with an anticholinergic agent or by ingestion of plants such as jimsonweed that contain belladonna alkaloids. It is characterized by dry mouth, hot, dry, flushed skin, fixed and dilated pupils, sinus tachycardia,… …   Medical dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”