Anticholinergics are commonly used in primary and secondary care settings for the treatment of overactive bladder syndrome. The number of anticholinergic drugs available on the market is increasing and various studies, both observational and randomized controlled trials, have evaluated effectiveness of the different preparations available. When anticholinergic therapy is prescribed, there is st...

Study selection Randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials in adults with symptomatic diagnosis of overactive bladder syndrome, urodynamic diagnosis of detrusor overactivity, or both, that compared an anticholinergic drug (given to decrease symptoms of overactive bladder) with placebo or no treatment. Studies of darifenacin, emepronium bromide or carrageenate, dicyclomine chloride, oxybut...

OBJECTIVE An epidemic of scopolamine poisonings occurred in Oslo in 2008 among users of illicit drugs, caused by fake Rohypnol pills. The clinical features, diagnostic process, and handling of the epidemic are presented. METHODS Suspected cases of scopolamine poisoning were extracted by reviewing registration forms from an ongoing prospective clinical study of acute poisonings in Oslo. Medica...

peripheral (autonomic and somatic) nervous systems. In the autonomic (sympathetic and parasympathetic) nervous system, acetylcholine is released from all preganglionic neurons, as well as from postganglionic parasympathetic neurons. Degradation of acetylcholine by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase occurs in the synapse between the presynaptic and postsynaptic membranes. There are two types of pos...

recent developments and anesthetic implications. Anesthesiology 1996; 84: 173–89 2 Lydic R, Baghdoyan HA. Cholinergic contributions to the control of consciousness, anesthesia. In: Yaksh TL, Lynch C III, Zapole WM, Maze M, Biebuyck JF, Saidman LJ, eds. Biologic Foundations. Philadelphia: Lippincott-Raven, 1997; 433–50 3 Meuret P, Backman SB, Bonhomme V, Plourde G, Fiset P. Physostigmine reverse...

A case of central anticholinergic syndrome due to overdosage of trihexyphenidyl hydrochloride presenting as septal akinetic mutism with unequally dilated pupils is discussed in reference to similar presentation in animals and possible clinical application.

The mydriatic response to eyedrops of the anticholinergic agent tropicamide at very low concentration (0.01%) has been studied in people with Down's syndrome. By comparison with healthy subjects people with Down's syndrome had responses approximately three times greater, suggesting a peripheral imbalance between cholinergic and adrenergic autonomic influences.