What kind of drug is atropine?

Atropine is commonly classified as an anticholinergic or antiparasympathetic (parasympatholytic) drug. More precisely, however, it is termed an antimuscarinic agent since it antagonizes the muscarine-like actions of acetylcholine and other choline esters.

What is atropine used for in an emergency?

It is used in emergency situations when the heart beats too slowly, as an antidote to for example organophosphate insecticide or nerve gas poisoning and in mushroom poisoning. It can be used as part of the premedication before general anaesthesia.

Which is a side effect of atropine?

These include dryness of the mouth, blurred vision, dry eyes, photophobia, confusion, headache, dizziness, fatigue, tachycardia, palpitations, flushing, urinary hesitance or retention, constipation, abdominal pain, abdominal distention, nausea, vomiting, loss of libido, and impotency.

Why can atropine be harmful?

Overdose can lead to increased antimuscarinic side effects of dilated pupils, warm, dry skin, tachycardia, tremor, ataxia, delirium, and coma. In extreme toxicity, circulatory collapse secondary to respiratory failure may occur after paralysis and coma.

Is atropine a controlled drug?

Lomotil (diphenoxylate / atropine) is a controlled medication, because it contains diphenoxylate, which is an opioid medication. At smaller doses, it’s used to treat diarrhea and does not cause pain-relieving effects like morphine at recommended doses.

Is atropine a narcotic?

Controlled Substance: Diphenoxylate HCl and atropine sulfate tablets are classified as a Schedule V controlled substance by federal regulation. Diphenoxylate hydrochloride is chemically related to the narcotic analgesic meperidine.

How does atropine increase heart rate?

Therapeutic Effects By blocking parasympathetic (vagal) action on the heart, atropine increases the rate of discharge by the sinus node. Enhances conduction through the atrioventricular (AV) junction. Accelerates the heart rate, therby improving cardiac output.

What’s atropine used for?

Ophthalmic atropine is used before eye examinations to dilate (open) the pupil, the black part of the eye through which you see. It is also used to relieve pain caused by swelling and inflammation of the eye.

How much atropine is an overdose?

Atropine toxicity and lethality are not predictable by dose. Fatalities have been reported with exposures of less than 100 mg, and survival has been described with doses greater than 1 g orally. The amount of atropine ingested by the patient in the case presented above falls into this potentially lethal range.

Is atropine addictive?

Signs and Symptoms of Atropine Addiction The effects of the drug are distinguished by the amount of it being abused. For instance, addicts who abuse smaller amounts of atropine will suffer symptoms such as thirst, dilated pupils, increased heart rate, blurred vision and dry skin.