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What Are Anticholinergic Drugs?

What Conditions Do Anticholinergic Drugs Treat?

In general, anticholinergic drugs are used to treat a diverse range of medical conditions.

Female reading pharmacy label

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List of Anticholinergic Drugs

Anticholinergic drugs are available as over-the-counter (OTC) medications and prescription products.

If you’re unsure whether your medication is an anticholinergic drug, talk to a healthcare provider or pharmacist.

Side Effects

This is not a complete list of sideeffects, and others may occur.

A healthcare provider can advise you on side effects.

If you experience other effects while taking an anticholinergic drug, contact a pharmacist or healthcare provider.

You may report side effects to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) atfda.gov/medwatchor 800-FDA-1088.

Moreover, based on individual characteristics, anticholinergic drugs might have more of an effect on you.

For example, anticholinergic drugs may increase the risk ofpsychosisin people withAlzheimer’s disease.

For these reasons, you must talk with a healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions.

Get medical help immediately if you develop a severe allergic reaction or serious side effects.

Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening.

In the body, acetylcholine typically attaches to binding sites called muscarinic receptors.

What’s more, malnutrition is a potentially serious side effect of anticholinergic drugs.

While the anticholinergic drug class has a wide range of uses, it is not without side effects.

There are also potential interactions with certain medical conditions, other medications, and nutritional considerations.

Frequently Asked Questions

The anticholinergic drug class is a large group of medications.

Some common anticholinergic drugs include Benadryl (diphenhydramine), Oxytrol (oxybutynin), and amitriptyline.

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