A bronchodilator or broncholytic is a substance that dilates the bronchi and bronchioles, decreasing resistance in the respiratory airway and increasing airflow to the lungs. Bronchodilators may be originating naturally within the body, or they may be medications administered for the treatment of breathing difficulties, usually in the form of inhalers. They are most useful in obstructive lung diseases, of which asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are the most common conditions. Although this remains somewhat controversial, they might be useful in bronchiolitis and bronchiectasis. They are often prescribed but of unproven significance in restrictive lung diseases.
Triprolidine is an over-the-counter antihistamine with anticholinergic properties. It is used to combat the symptoms associated with allergies and is sometimes combined with other cold medications designed to provide general relief for flu-like symptoms. As with many antihistamines, the most common side effect is drowsiness.
Hyoscyamine is a naturally occurring tropane alkaloid and plant toxin. It is a secondary metabolite found in certain plants of the family Solanaceae, including henbane, mandrake, angel's trumpets, jimsonweed, tomato, the sorcerers' tree, and deadly nightshade. It is the levorotary isomer of atropine and thus sometimes known as levo-atropine.
Maprotiline, sold under the brand name Ludiomil among others, is a tetracyclic antidepressant (TeCA) that is used in the treatment of depression. It may alternatively be classified as a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA), specifically a secondary amine. In terms of its chemistry and pharmacology, maprotiline is closely related to other secondary amine TCAs like nortriptyline and protriptyline, and has similar effects to them.
Anticholinergics are substances that block the action of the neurotransmitter called acetylcholine (ACh) at synapses in the central and peripheral nervous system.
Chlorphenamine, also known as chlorpheniramine, is an antihistamine used to treat the symptoms of allergic conditions such as allergic rhinitis. It is taken by mouth. The medication takes effect within two hours and lasts for about 4-6.
Ipratropium bromide, sold under the trade name Atrovent among others, is a type of anticholinergic, medication which opens up the medium and large airways in the lungs. It is used to treat the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. It is used by inhaler or nebulizer. Onset of action is typically within 15 to 30 minutes and lasts for three to five hours.
A gastrointestinal cocktail,, is a mixture of medications used to treat symptoms of dyspepsia The GI cocktail generally contains a mixture of viscous lidocaine, an antacid, and an anticholinergic. The GI cocktail is commonly prescribed in the hospital or emergency department, and has been used to help distinguish chest pain as either gastrointestinal or cardiac. While it has been widely used in the treatment of dyspepsia, studies have suggested that the GI cocktail is only as effective as antacids alone.
Clemastine, also known as meclastin, is a first-generation H1 histamine antagonist (antihistamine) with anticholinergic properties (drying) and sedative side effects. Like all first-generation antihistamines, it is sedating.
Doxepin is a medication used to treat major depressive disorder, anxiety disorders, chronic hives, and insomnia. For hives it is a less preferred alternative to antihistamines. It has a mild to moderate benefit for sleeping problems. It is used as a cream for itchiness due to atopic dermatitis or lichen simplex chronicus.
Orphenadrine is an anticholinergic drug of the ethanolamine antihistamine class; it is closely related to diphenhydramine. It is a muscle relaxant that is used to treat muscle pain and to help with motor control in Parkinson's disease, but has largely been superseded by newer drugs. This substance is considered a dirty drug due to its multiple mechanism of action in different pathways. It was discovered and developed in the 1940s.
Biperiden, sold under the brand name Akineton among others, is a medication used to treat Parkinson disease and certain drug-induced movement disorders. It is not recommended for tardive dyskinesias. It is taken by mouth, injection into a vein, or muscle.
Mequitazine (trade name Primalan) is an H1 antagonist and anticholinergic of the phenothiazine chemical class. It is used to treat allergies and rhinitis.
Chlorphenoxamine (Phenoxene) is an antihistamine and anticholinergic used as an antipruritic and antiparkinsonian agent. It is an analog of diphenhydramine.
Bornaprine is a synthetic anticholinergic medication that is primarily used to treat Parkinson's disease. Additionally, bornaprine has been used to treat other disorders, including hyperhidrosis.
Antazoline is a 1st generation antihistamine with anticholinergic properties used to relieve nasal congestion and in eye drops, usually in combination with naphazoline, to relieve the symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis. To treat allergic conjunctivitis, antazoline can be combined in a solution with tetryzoline. The drug is a Histamine H1 receptor antagonist: selectively binding to but not activating the receptor, thereby blocking the actions of endogenous histamine and subsequently leading to the temporary relief of the negative symptoms brought on by histamine.
Ditran (JB-329) is an anticholinergic drug mixture, related to the chemical warfare agent 3-Quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB).
Piroheptine is an anticholinergic and antihistamine used as an antiparkinsonian agent.
Hexocyclium is an antimuscarinic. It is used in the form of its methyl sulfate, called hexocyclium metilsulfate.
Cidoxepin (former developmental code name P-4599), also known as cis-doxepin or (Z)-doxepin, is a tricyclic antidepressant which was developed in the 1960s but was never marketed. It is the cis or (Z) stereoisomer of doxepin, a mixture of (E) and (Z) isomers that is used commercially in a ratio of approximately 85:15 with cidoxepin as a relatively minor constituent. However, the drug has similar activity to that of doxepin, acting as a serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, H1 receptor antagonist, and anticholinergic, and notably is thought to have more antidepressant activity than trans-doxepin. The central anticholinergic activity of cidoxepin has been reported to be 3-fold greater than that of the trans isomer in mice.
