Anti-Cholinergics Asmah Nasser, M.D.

Anti-Cholinergics Cholinergic blockers( Anti-cholinergics or parasympatholytics) - class of drugs that block the actions of acetylcholine in the PSNS Cholinergic blockers allow the SNS to dominate and, therefore, have many of the same effects as the adrenergics. Muscarinic receptor blockers Nicotinic receptor blockers

M1 Secretory glands salivation, stomach acid, sweating, lacrimation M2 Heart Decreases heart rate  bradycardia M3 Smooth muscle (GI/GU/Resp) Contraction of smooth muscles (some)  diarrhea, bronchospasm, urination Pupil and ciliary muscle Contracts  Miosis Increased flow of aqueous humor Nm Skeletal muscle end plate Contraction of skeletal muscle Nn Autonomic ganglia, Adrenal Medulla Secretion of Epinephrine Controls ANS

WHAT ARE THE DRUG TARGETS? Block/Antagonize Muscuranic Receptors Prevent the release of acetylcholine Prevent formation of acetylcholine Deplete acetyl choline storage

Muscarinic receptor blockers 1.Natural alkaloids: Atropine, Scopolamine 2.Semi synthetic drugs : Homoatropine, tropicamide, (short acting) Benztropine, ipratropium glycopyrrolate, Dicyclomaine

Atropine Muscarinic receptor blocker Not hydrolyzed by cholinesterase, long duration of action Actions of Atropine: Decreased salivary, bronchial and sweat secretion Mydriasis and cyloplegia (loss of accommodation reflex) Tachycardia Constipation Urinary retention Excitation /hallucinations

Uses of Atropine Muscuranic Blocker To produce mydriasis in refraction error testing (short acting preparations of atropine are preferred) To treat Heart block, Bradycardia To treat Cholinesterase inhibitors / Oragnaophosphate (OP)pesticides poisoning Anti-Diarrheal agent

Atropine Contrindications of Atropine: Glaucoma (closed angle) Urinary retention Benign prostatic hypertrophy Paralytic Ileus Myasthenia Gravis

Other Muscarinic Blockers Tropicamide: which acts for 4 hours is preferred to produce mydriasis and cycloplegia in refraction error testing and fundoscopy Benztropine (drug of choice) for treatment of drug-induced Parkinsonism Ipratropium bromide: Bronchial asthama Scopolamine: to prevent Motion sickness

Scopolamine Competitive Muscuranic receptor antagonist M1 > M2 and M3 Reduces Nausea Uses: Prevent sea sickness, used in motion sickness, nausea, etc Used in a transdermal patch because of CNS side effects

Ipratropium bromide Muscuranic Anatagnist Blocks M3 (for smooth muscle contraction) If used inhaled, will prevent bronchospams  bronchodilation Decreases the secretions made in the respiratory mucosa Uses: Asthma

Nicotinic Receptor blockers There are 2 subtypes of Niotinic Receptors: Nn and Nm Nn is found in nerves, at the ganglion Nm is found on muscles.

Nicotinic receptor blockers Ganglionic blocking drugs: Trimethaphen Neuromuscular blockers : Nondepolarizing: D-tubocurarine , Atracurium Depolarizing: Succinylcholine

Ganglionic Blocking Drugs Blocks the Sympathetic and Parasympathetic ANS. Effects are dependant on the organ sympathetic or parasympathetic activity in that organ is reduced Side effects are combined with both Symapathetic and Parasynmpathetic Symptoms (depends on what tone that the organ is predominantly supplied by) Hexamethonium : Not used Trimethaphen: Used to treat severe hypertensive crises

Ganglionic blockers Trimethaphen Nn receptor antagonist. Blocks sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system Uses: Hypertensive Crsis Side effects: Mixed loss of Sympathetic (hypotension) and Parasympathetic Nervous System (tachycardia, constipation, urinary rentention, dry mouth, etc…)

Hemicholinium Indirect Cholinergic Antagonist Blocks reuptake/recycle of Choline from the synapse to the pre-synaptic neuron Not in clinical use

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants Asmah Nasser, M.D.

Neuromuscular blockers Nm blockers blocks acetylcholine at the Nm receptor. Used in Surgery for skeletal muscle relaxation Non-depolarizing Long acting: Tubocurarine, Pancuronium, Doxacuraium Intermediate acting: Atracurium Short acting: Miyacurium Depolarizing: Succinylcholine (shorting acting)

Non-depolarizing Nm Blocker Example: Turbocurarine (long acting) MOA: After blocking NM receptors, they prevent depolarization of muscle membrane and muscle contraction Halothene and Aminoglycosides increase the actions of Nm blockers Affinity for Nm not much higher than Nn Side effects: Ganglionic blocker  hypotension Releases histamine  Hypotension, bronchospasm

Other Non-depolarizing Antagonists Atracurium Metabolism: By plasma Cholinesterase Safe in patients with Renal Failure Intermediate Duration of Action (15 minutes) Miyacurium Short acting (minutes) Used in short procedures (intubations)

Depolarizing Nm Blockers: Succinylcholine It stimulates the Nm receptor, similar to Ach Persists at receptor at high concentration, because it is not destroyed by AChE at the Nm junction “Desensitizes” the end plate by occupying the receptors and causing a “persistent depolarization” leads to flaccid paralysis of muscle Rapid onset and short duration of action (4-5 minutes) than other Nm blockers Used mostly in very short procedures (intubation)

Side effects of Succinylcholine Is metabolized rapidly by plasma pseudocholinestrase. Side effect: Therefore pts who have a congenital deficiency is pseudocholinesterase can’t metabolize Succinylcholine  toxicity “Succinylcholine Apnea” Malignant hyperthermia Hyperkalemia  Arrythmias

Antidote? Neostigmine is used to reserve the effects of Non- depolarizing agents. It inhibits the cholinesterase enzyme, increasing the amount of acetylcholine in the synapse, displacing Nm antagonists from the post-synaptic receptor.

Malignant hyperthermia Is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder of skeletal muscle It is associated with mutations in the gene for the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor (RYRl), the calcium release channel of the sarcoplasmic reticulum The specific biochemical abnormality is an increase in free calcium concentration in skeletal muscle cells

Malignant hyperthermia Rapid onset of hypertension and tachycardia, severe muscle rigidity, hyperthermia, hyperkalemia, and acid-base imbalance with acidosis, following exposure to a triggering agent. Is a rare but important cause of anesthetic morbidity and mortality. Occurs in susceptible individuals who undergoes general anesthesia with inhaled agents (halothene) and skeletal muscle relaxants( eg, succinylcholine).

Treatment of Malignant Hyperthermia Dantrolene : MOA: Prevents calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum

What to know! Know the different Cholinergic receptors! Uses of Atropine, Benztropine, Ipatropium Know about Ganglionic blockers, their side effects (and why they get those side effects). Know about the use of Trimethaphan Know the difference between Depolaring and Non-Depolaring Neuromuscular blockers Know about Malignant Hyperthermia

Pretest question Of the many types of adrenergic receptors found throughout the body, which is most likely responsible for the cardiac stimulation that is observed following an intravenous injection of epinephrine? a. α1-adrenergic receptors b. α2-adrenergic receptors c. β1-adrenergic receptors d. β2-adrenergic receptors e. β3-adrenergic receptors

Pretest Question Applied to the skin in a transdermal patch (transdermal therapeutic delivery system), this drug is used to prevent or reduce the occurrence of nausea and vomiting that are associated with motion sickness. a. Diphenhydramine b. Chlorpromazine c. Ondansetron d. Dimenhydrinate e. Scopolamine

Pretest Question Which of the following antimuscarinic drugs is used by inhalation in the treatment of bronchial asthma? a. Dicyclomine hydrochloride b. Cyclopentolate hydrochloride c. Ipratropium bromide d. Methscopolamine bromide e. Trihexyphenidyl hydrochloride

Pretest Question A male patient is brought to the emergency department (ED) following ingestion of an unknown substance. He is found to have an elevated temperature, hot and flushed skin, dilated pupils, and tachycardia. Of the following, which would most likely cause these findings? a. Propranolol b. Methylphenidate c. Prazosin d. Guanethidine e. Atropine

Preest Question Of the following, which will not be blocked by atropine and scopolamine? a. Bradycardia b. Salivary secretion c. Bronchoconstriction d. Skeletal muscle contraction e. Miosis

Pretest Question

Practice Question Competitive Antagonists at the Nm junction include which of the following? A. Dantrolene B. Atracurium C. Mecamylamine D. Isoflurophate E. Succinylcholine

Practice Question Hereditary deficiency in what enzyme can lead to prolonged side effects of Succinylcholine? G6PD Plasma Cholinesterase Pseudocholinesterase Cytochrome Oxidase Liver transaminase

Practice Question Dantrolene is the drug of treament for Malignant hypertherma because: Dantrolene blocks Ca2+ release from the SR Dantrolene induces contraction of skeletal muscle Dantrene increases the rate of succinylcholine metabolism Succinylcholine binding to the Nicotinic receptor is blocked by dantrolene Dantrolene acts centrally to reduce fever

Practice Questions Which of the following agents, when applied topically to the eye, would induce both mydriasis and cycloplegia? Phenylephrine Carbachol Prazosin Atropine

Practice Question Neostigmine would be expected to reverse which one of the following conditions? Paralysis of skeletal muscle by a competitive (non-depolarizing) muscle relaxant Paralysis of skeletal muscle by depolarizing muscle relaxant Cardiac slowing induced by stimulation of the vagus nerve Pupillary miosis induced by bright light