Anticholinergic Side Effects

[Guest guest]

Why do we get dry mouth, blurried vision, and urinary retention as the result

of anticholinergic side effects?

Thank you

[Guest guest]

Great Critical Thinking Kendra!

The original answer that I said to myself was: because we are increasing the

effects of norepinephrine RELATIVELY and NE causes these reactions or because we

are blocking or lowering the effects of acetylcholine. I stand by this. However

I decided to search the net for a more 'accepted' response to this question, if

I could find one.

I found the followng most accepted answers:

" Action/Kinetics:

Anticholinergic (cholinergic blocking) agents prevent the neurotransmitter

acetylcholine from combining with receptors on the postganglionic

parasympathetic nerve terminal (muscarinic site). Effects include reduction of

smooth muscle spasms, blockade of vagal impulses to the heart, decreased

secretions (e.g., gastric, salivation, bronchial mucus, sweat glands),

production of mydriasis and cycloplegia, and various CNS effects. In therapeutic

doses, these drugs have little effect on transmission of nerve impulses across

ganglia (nicotinic sites) or at the neuromuscular junction. Several

anticholinergic drugs abolish or reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's disease,

such as tremors and rigidity, and result in sonic improvement in mobility,

muscular coordination, and motor performance. These effects may be due to

blockade of the effects of acetylcholine in the CNS. "

http://www.pspinformation.com/medications/medications-other/anticholinergic2.sht\

ml

The LAST sentence says exactly what I was saying in my last phrase or part of my

last sentence.

When a child asks " why is the sky blue? " I would not know how to answer this

question. I learned that there is a relection of the water on earth. But when I

researched it I got the following:

http://www.sciencemadesimple.com/sky_blue.html

which basically says i need to study color and lightwaves before I can really

understand.

When my member asks " Why do we get dry mouth, blurried vision, and urinary

retention as the result of anticholinergic side effects? " I can only answer

" that we do " ! " We just do! " AND because NE is increased relatively and NE causes

these effects..

So I call upon anyone else who may know WHY if there is reason other than we

just do and NE causes these effects or if anyone can explain the NE effects

better than I have here.

In my classroom I take DAYS to explain the difference in the effects of NE vs

ACH, meaningmy students have to study NE vs ACH (light and color). They are

opposites for the most part. SNS vs PSNS. So by the time I am discussing the MOA

of anticholinergics they pretty much are 'accepting' the facts rather than

asking 'why?'. So to be honest with you I have not had to answer 'why?'.

I am calling upon my resident pharmacists to help us out on this question.

" Anticholinergic side effects are the direct result of our " meddling " with the

levels of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine or blocking its receptors. When

drugs do this, the result is the production of unintended side effects. "

http://www.psychiatryforpatientsandfamilies.com/psychiatryforpatientsandfamilies\

/anticholinergicsideeffects.html

Here is some information that you did not ask for but may help you:

Dry mouth may increase the chance of developing cavities, or in extreme cases,

may produce ulcers.

Dry eyes may be a problem for people who wear contact lenses.

Blurred vision is related to the slowing of the movement of the lens of the eye

forward or backward to focus.

Anticholinergic Syndrome

Anticholinergic Syndrome consists of toxic psychosis, agitation, confusion,

mydriasis (dilated pupils), urinary retention, ileus (a lack a movement of

materials through the bowel), hot flushed dry skin, and tachycardia (rapid

pulse).

Severe anticholinergic side effects may lead to seizures, coma and death.

The following series of similes are used by medical students to remember

anticholinergic side effects: " Dry as a bone, blind as a bat, red as a beet,

hot as an oven, and mad as a hatter. "

http://www.psychiatryforpatientsandfamilies.com/psychiatryforpatientsandfamilies\

/anticholinergicsideeffects.html

Dry as a bone = thirsty less saliva (also dry skin and eyes)

Blind as a bat = blurry vision due to mydriasis

Red as a beet = a flushing occurs along with dry skin

Hot as an oven = The inability to perspire at times, perspiration cools us down.

Mad as a hatter = blood pressure goes up which can make us quick to anger. We

can also become confused which causes frustrations which leads to anger.

Why? because.....

I hope this helps!

I invite others to explain WHY if they can!

What we can explain easily, but why?... that is a whole other story!

" Anticholinergics are medications that block the action of the neurotransmitter

acetylcholine. Acetylcholine controls many bodily functions not under

voluntarily control, including sweating, balancing, pupil dilation, contraction

of bladder muscles, digestion and salivation. Many common medications have

anticholinergic side effects. Many of the drugs used for allergies, motion

sickness, coughs and colds, nausea, overactive bladder, diarrhea and overactive

bladder have anticholinergic effects. While anticholinergic medications have

benefits, they also have a variety of side effects. "

http://www.livestrong.com/article/162077-anticholinergics-side-effects/

" According to the International Society for Complexity, Information, and Design,

or ISCID, an increase in acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter found in your body,

decreases heart rate, increases your saliva production, and stimulates muscle

activity. "

" Anticholinergics work by blocking the effects of acetylcholine. The result is

an increase in heart rate, a decrease in saliva production, and a reduction in

muscle activity. Thus, you end up with a dry mouth.

http://www.livestrong.com/article/268441-what-are-the-causes-of-a-dry-mouth-when\

-on-medication/

It is all the same thing because we do! because it just does.

What can we do about lack of saliva, warmth, high blood pressure, tachycardia,

blurry vision, constipation and urinary retention? That is the bigger question.

Hope this helps you Kendra!

Jeanetta Mastron CPhT BS Chem

Founder/Owner

>

> Why do we get dry mouth, blurried vision, and urinary retention as the result

of anticholinergic side effects?

>

>

> Thank you

>