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- What are anticholinergic drugs?
- What diseases and conditions do anticholinergic and antispasmodic drugs treat?
- What are examples of prescription anticholinergic and antispasmodic agents available in the US?
- Anticholinergic activity drugs
- Antispasmodic medications
- Overactive bladder (OAB) medications
- Antidepressant medications
- Muscle relaxants
- Motion sickness medications
- Gastrointestinal medications
- Respiratory medications
- What are the side effects of anticholinergic and antispasmodic drugs?
- Who should not use anticholinergic and antispasmodic medications?
- What drugs interact with anticholinergic and antispasmodic drugs?
- What about taking anticholinergics and antispasmodic during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
What are anticholinergic drugs?
Anticholinergic and antispasmodic drugs include a broad class of medications that are used to treat various medical conditions that involve contraction and relaxation of muscles. Examples of these conditions includeoveractive bladder, muscle spasms, breathing problems, diarrhea, gastrointestinal cramps, movement disorders, and others. Anticholinergics work by blocking the action of acetylcholine in the brain and at nerves. Neurotransmitters are chemicals made and released by nerves that travel to nearby nerves or, in the case of acetylcholine, nearby muscles and glands where they attach to receptors on the surface of the nerve, muscle or glandular cells. The attachment of the neurotransmitter can stimulate or inhibit the activity of the receptor-containing cells. Anticholinergic drugs affect the function of many organs by preventing acetylcholine from binding to its receptors.
Anticholinergic drugs decrease the activity of muscles in the gut and reduce production of sweat, saliva, digestive juices, urine, and tears. Additionally, anticholinergic drugs help to balance the production of dopamine, another neurotransmitter that plays an important role in maintaining mood, movement, memory, attention, problem solving, motivation, and pleasure.
In addition to drugs that are primarily anticholinergic, there are drugs used for purposes other than nerve, muscle, or glandular problems which have some anticholinergic effects that are considered side effects, for example, antipsychotic and antidepressant drugs.
What diseases and conditions do anticholinergic and antispasmodic drugs treat?
- Overactive bladder
- Movement problems in Parkinson's disease
- Diarrhea
- Motion sickness
- Nausea and/or vomiting
- Muscle spasms
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Asthma
Quick GuideDigestive Disorders: Common Misconceptions
What are examples of prescription anticholinergic and antispasmodic agents available in the US?
A variety of medications with anticholinergic properties are available for the treatment of various medical conditions.
Anticholinergic activity drugs
- Parkinson's medications
- diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
- trihexyphenidyl (Artane)
- benztropine mesylate (Cogentin)
- biperiden (Akineton) (This drug is no longer available in the US)
- antipsychotics
- clomipramine (Anafranil)
- chlorpromazine (Thorazine- Discontinued brand)
- clozapine (Clozaril, Fazaclo ODT, Versacloz)
- fluphenazine (Prolixin- Discontinued brand)
- loxapine (Adasuve; Loxitane- Discontinued brand)
- olanzapine (Zyprexa, Symbyax)
- perphenazine (Trilafon- Discontinued brand)
- pimozide (Orap)
- quetiapine (Seroquel)
- thioridazine (Mellaril- Discontinued brand)
- thiothixene (Navane-Discontinued brand)
- trifluoperazine (Stelazine-Discontinued brand)
Antispasmodic medications
- belladonna
- chloridiazepoxide (Librium)
- dicyclomine (Bentyl)
- hyoscyamine (Levsin) (This drug is no longer available in the US)
Anticholinergic activity drugs
- Parkinson's medications
- diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
- trihexyphenidyl (Artane)
- benztropine mesylate (Cogentin)
- biperiden (Akineton)
- antipsychotics
- clomipramine (Anafranil)
- chlorpromazine (Thorazine)
- clozapine (Clozaril)
- fluphenazine (Prolixin)
- loxapine (Loxitane)
- olanzapine (Zyprexa)
- perphenazine (Trilafon)
- pimozide (Orap)
- quetiapine (Seroquel)
- thioridazine (Mellaril)
- thiothixene (Navane)
- trifluoperazine (Stelazine)
Antispasmodic medications
- belladonna
- chloridiazepoxide (Librium)
- dicyclomine (Bentyl)
- hyoscyamine (Levsin)
Overactive bladder (OAB) medications
- oxybutynin (Ditropan)
- darifenacin (Enablex)
- solifenacin (Vesicare)
- fesoterodine (Toviaz)
- tolterodine (Detrol)
- trospium (Sanctura)
Antidepressant medications
- amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep)
- amoxapine (Asendin)
- clomipramine (Anafranil)
- desipramine (Norpramin)
- doxepin (Silenor)
- imipramine (Tofranil)
- nortriptyline (Pamelor)
- protriptyline (Vivactil)
- trimipramine (Surmontil)
Muscle relaxants
Gastrointestinal medications
- atropine
- belladonna
- dicyclomine (Bentyl)
- hyoscyamine (Levsin) (This drug is no longer available in the US)
- loperamide (Imodium)
- promethazine (Phenergan)
More Health News »Respiratory medications
What are the side effects of anticholinergic and antispasmodic drugs?
- Blurred vision
- Dry mouth
- Dry eyes
- Decreased urine production
- Decreased sweat production
- Constipation
- Memory impairment
- Delirium
- Confusion
When possible, the use of anticholinergics should be avoided in the elderly because anticholinergic side effects are particularly common and problematic in older individuals.
Who should not use anticholinergic and antispasmodic medications?
Patients with the following medical conditions should not use medications with anticholinergic properties since use of anticholinergic medications can worsen their conditions:
- Benign prostate hyperplasia (enlarged prostate)
- Glaucoma
- Urinary bladder neck obstruction
- Myasthenia gravis
- Alzheimer's disease
What drugs interact with anticholinergic and antispasmodic drugs?
The use of multiple drugs with anticholinergic properties may be problematic because of their cumulative anticholinergic side effects. Examples of medications with anticholinergic properties that should not be combined include:
- Antipsychotics
- Certain antidepressants
- Histamine 1-receptor blockers (H1RA)
- Antispasmodics
- Anti-diarrheal medications
- Parkinson's medications
- Overactive bladder (OAB) medications
- Motion sickness medications
- Certain antiemetics
Patients are advised to consult with their doctor or pharmacist for more information regarding potential drug interactions.
Quick GuideDigestive Disorders: Common Misconceptions
What about taking anticholinergics and antispasmodic during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
Pregnancy
Most of the available anticholinergic medications have not been adequately studied in pregnant women. Patients who are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant should consult with their doctor before starting a regimen that contains anticholinergic medications.
Breastfeeding
Many drugs can enter human milk and cause unwanted side effects in the nursing baby. Therefore, all medications should be used cautiously in nursing mothers. The prescribing information for each drug should be consulted for recommendations about use while breastfeeding.
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Summary
Anticholinergic or antispasmodic (generic name) drugs include prescription medications used to treat a variety of medical conditions like:
- muscle spasms,
- breathing problems,
- movement disorders,
- nausea,
- diarrhea,
- motion sickness,
- and gastrointestinal cramps.
Examples of anticholinergic (antispasmodic) drugs include:
- Parkinson's disease medications,
- Benadryl, antipsychotics,
- Thorazine,
- Seroquel,
- belladona,
- Bentyl,
- and Levsin.
Examples of anticholinergic drugs for overactive bladder include:
Examples of anticholinergic antidepressant medications include:
Examples of anticholinergic muscle relaxants include:
Anticholinergic motion sickness medications include:
Anticholinergic drug side effects, drug interactions, storage, dosing, and pregnancy and safety information should be reviewed prior to taking any medication.
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Treatment & Diagnosis
Medications & Supplements
- scopolamine - transdermal, Transderm-Scop
- olanzapine - oral, Zyprexa
- methocarbamol (Robaxin, Robaxin-750)
- diphenhydramine, Benadryl
- Antidepressants (Depression Medications)
- dicyclomine, Bentyl
- oxybutynin, Ditropan (discontinued brand in the US); Ditropan XL; Oxytrol; Anturol; Gelnique
- cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril, Amrix, Fexmid)
- scopolamine, Transderm-Scop
- amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep)
- ipratropium bromide inhaler, Atrovent, Atrovent HFA
- tizanidine
- meclizine, Antivert, Bonine, Meni-D, Antrizine
- loperamide (Imodium)
- hyoscyamine sublingual (Levbid, Levsin, Nulev, Anaspaz)
- quetiapine (Seroquel, Seroquel XR)
- promethazine, Phenergan, Phenadoz, Promethegan
- doxepin (Sinequan and Adapin are discontinued brand in the US; Silenor)
- promethazine and codeine, Phenergan with Codeine
- clozapine (Clozaril, Fazacio ODT, Versacloz)
- olanzapine, Zyprexa, Zydis, Zyprexa Relprevv
- orphenadrine (Norflex)
- nortriptyline, Pamelor, Aventyl - has been discontinued in the U.S.
- chlorpromazine - oral, Thorazine
- benztropine (Cogentin)
- carisoprodol (Soma)
- desipramine, Norpramin
- loxapine - oral, Loxitane
- chlorpromazine-injection, Thorazine
- tolterodine, Detrol, Detrol LA
- atropine (oral, Atreza, Sal-Tropine - discontinued in the US)
- pimozide - oral, Orap
- trospium - oral, Sanctura
- imipramine, Tofranil, Tofranil-PM
- fluphenazine (Permitil, Prolixin)
- hyoscine (scopolamine)-injectable
- hyoscyamine - disintegrating oral tablet, Nulev
- fluphenazine liquid - oral, Prolixin
- clomipramine (Anafranil)
- dantrolene - oral, Dantrium
- ipratropium solution - inhalation, Atrovent
- thioridazine (Mellaril is a discontinued brand)
- atropine ophthalmic
- thiothixene - oral, Navane
- trimipramine (Surmontil)
- fluphenazine concentrate - oral, Prolixin
Prevention & Wellness
From 
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Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Clinical Pharmacology [database online]. Tampa, FL: Gold Standard, Inc.; 2009.
Drugs with Anticholinergic Activity. Prescriber's Letter 2011; 18 (12):271233.
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