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Copyright © 2013 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Anticholinergics
• Actions
– Block the action of acetylcholine in the CNS to help
normalize the acetylcholine-dopamine imbalance
• Indications
– Treatment of parkinsonism
– Relief of extrapyramidal symptoms
• Pharmacokinetics
– Absorbed from GI tract
– Peak 1-4 hours
– Metabolized in the liver, excreted by cellular pathways
– Crosses the placenta and enters the breast milk

Copyright © 2013 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Anticholinergics (cont.)
• Contraindications
– Known allergy
– Narrow angle glaucoma
– GI obstruction
– GU obstruction
– Prostatic hypertrophy
• Cautions
– Dysrhythmias
– Hypertension
– Hypotension
– Hepatic dysfunction
– Pregnancy and lactation

Copyright © 2013 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Anticholinergics (cont.)
• Adverse Reactions
– Disorientation
– Confusion
– Agitation
– Delirium
– Nausea, vomiting, paralytic ileus
• Drug-to-Drug Interactions
– Tricyclic antidepressants
– Phenothiazines

Copyright © 2013 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
Question
Please answer the following statement as true or false.
While caring for a patient with Parkinson ’ s disease the
nurse would encourage the patient to take care of
him/herself as long as possible.

Copyright © 2013 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Copyright © 2013 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins