Conflicting conditions/ Contraindications

Anticholinergics can be used to treat many conditions, but they aren’t for
everyone. For example, these drugs aren’t usually prescribed for older people.

Anticholinergics are known to cause confusion, memory loss, and

worsening mental function in people who are older than 65 years.

Also, people with the following conditions shouldn’t use anticholinergics:

 myasthenia gravis
 hyperthyroidism
 glaucoma
 enlarged prostate
 hypertension (high blood pressure)
 urinary tract blockage
 increased heart rate (tachycardia)
 heart failure
 severe dry mouth
 hiatal hernia
 severe constipation
 liver disease
 Down syndrome
Uses/ Indications

Anticholinergics are used to treat a variety of conditions. These include:

 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

 overactive bladder and incontinence
 gastrointestinal disorders, such as diarrhea
 asthma
 dizziness and motion sickness
 poisoning caused by toxins such as organophosphates or muscarine,
which may be found in some insecticides and poisonous mushrooms
 symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, such as abnormal involuntary muscle
movement

Anticholinergics can also be used as muscle relaxants during surgery to assist

with anesthesia. They help:

 keep the heartbeat normal

 relax the person
 decrease saliva secretions

Some doctors prescribe anticholinergics for off-label use to help decrease

excessive sweating. The anticholinergics used most for this treatment are:

 glycopyrrolate cream
 oxybutynin oral tablets