Anticholinergic syndrome. Avoiding misdiagnosis. 1994

M B Marchlewski
VA Lakeside Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60611.

Anticholinergic syndrome can develop in multiple clinical situations. The disturbance of the central nervous system muscarinic transmission by acetylcholine antagonists or lack of acetylcholine can result in this unpredictable behavioral syndrome. Health care professionals should do the following: Be familiar with common drugs or drug combinations that may induce this condition; Be aware of patients who may be at greatest risk; Be able to identify the cluster of signs and symptoms of anticholinergic toxicity; and Implement appropriate nursing treatment interventions for patients with anticholinergic syndrome. Because this condition is constantly changing, it often is misdiagnosed. Much remains to be studied and understood about the neurophysiology of this condition. Central cholinergic transmission is blocked with the use of many anticholinergic drugs in numerous patient settings. Because acetylcholine plays a significant role in modulating the interactions among most other central transmitters, excessive blockage of this neurotransmitter may result in the unpredictable behavioral condition known as anticholinergic syndrome.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D009733 Nursing Diagnosis Conclusions derived from the nursing assessment that establish a health status profile for the patient and from which nursing interventions may be ordered. Diagnosis, Nursing,Diagnoses, Nursing,Nursing Diagnoses
D011605 Psychoses, Substance-Induced Psychotic organic mental disorders resulting from the toxic effect of drugs and chemicals or other harmful substance. Psychoses, Drug,Psychoses, Toxic,Substance-Induced Psychoses,Toxic Psychoses,Drug Psychoses,Psychoses, Substance Induced,Substance Induced Psychoses
D004305 Dose-Response Relationship, Drug The relationship between the dose of an administered drug and the response of the organism to the drug. Dose Response Relationship, Drug,Dose-Response Relationships, Drug,Drug Dose-Response Relationship,Drug Dose-Response Relationships,Relationship, Drug Dose-Response,Relationships, Drug Dose-Response
D004359 Drug Therapy, Combination Therapy with two or more separate preparations given for a combined effect. Combination Chemotherapy,Polychemotherapy,Chemotherapy, Combination,Combination Drug Therapy,Drug Polytherapy,Therapy, Combination Drug,Chemotherapies, Combination,Combination Chemotherapies,Combination Drug Therapies,Drug Polytherapies,Drug Therapies, Combination,Polychemotherapies,Polytherapies, Drug,Polytherapy, Drug,Therapies, Combination Drug
D004409 Dyskinesia, Drug-Induced Abnormal movements, including HYPERKINESIS; HYPOKINESIA; TREMOR; and DYSTONIA, associated with the use of certain medications or drugs. Muscles of the face, trunk, neck, and extremities are most commonly affected. Tardive dyskinesia refers to abnormal hyperkinetic movements of the muscles of the face, tongue, and neck associated with the use of neuroleptic agents (see ANTIPSYCHOTIC AGENTS). (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1199) Dyskinesia, Medication-Induced,Medication-Induced Dyskinesia,Drug-Induced Dyskinesia,Drug-Induced Dyskinesias,Dyskinesia, Drug Induced,Dyskinesia, Medication Induced,Dyskinesias, Drug-Induced,Dyskinesias, Medication-Induced,Medication Induced Dyskinesia,Medication-Induced Dyskinesias
D006220 Haloperidol A phenyl-piperidinyl-butyrophenone that is used primarily to treat SCHIZOPHRENIA and other PSYCHOSES. It is also used in schizoaffective disorder, DELUSIONAL DISORDERS, ballism, and TOURETTE SYNDROME (a drug of choice) and occasionally as adjunctive therapy in INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY and the chorea of HUNTINGTON DISEASE. It is a potent antiemetic and is used in the treatment of intractable HICCUPS. (From AMA Drug Evaluations Annual, 1994, p279) Haldol
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D001590 Benztropine A centrally active muscarinic antagonist that has been used in the symptomatic treatment of PARKINSON DISEASE. Benztropine also inhibits the uptake of dopamine. Apo-Benztropine,Bensylate,Benzatropine,Benzatropine Mesylate,Benzatropine Methanesulfonate,Benzatropine Methanesulfonate, Hydrobromide,Benzatropine Methanesulfonate, Hydrobromide, (endo)-Isomer,Benzatropine Methanesulfonate, Hydrochloride, (endo)-Isomer,Benztropine Mesylate,Cogentin,Cogentinol,N-Methylbenztropine,PMS-Benztropine,Apo Benztropine,Hydrobromide Benzatropine Methanesulfonate,Mesylate, Benzatropine,Mesylate, Benztropine,Methanesulfonate, Benzatropine,Methanesulfonate, Hydrobromide Benzatropine,N Methylbenztropine,PMS Benztropine

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