Cholinergic vs. Anticholinergic Agents

involuntary movement (sympathetic vs parasympathetic)

The autonomic nervous system is responsible for _____.

Cholinergic Agents: mimic the body’s natural ACh to stimulate parasympathetic response.

Anticholinergic Agents: block the action of ACh to suppress the parasympathetic response.

What is the difference between cholinergic and anticholinergic agents?

Myasthenia Gravis and Alzheimer’s Disease

Cholinergic Drugs are used to treat _______ and _______.

Myasthenia Gravis (MG)

_____ is a chronic autoimmune condition affecting that causes skeletal muscle weakness.

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD)

_____ is a progressive disease in which there is a loss of cortical neurons, leading to decreased cognitive function, behavioral changes, and difficulty walking and swallowing.

No, cholinergic drugs can slow its progression, but they do not reverse it.

Is AD curable?

Parkinson’s Disease

Anticholinergic agents are often used to treat _____, a degenerative neuromuscular disorder.

dopamine

Parkinson’s results from a lack of _____.

Levadopa (L-dopa)

_____ is the prototype drug used to increase dopamine and relieve the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease.

tremors and ridigity

L-dopa improves ______ associated with Parkinson’s.

not curable

Like AD, Parkinson’s is ______.

suicide risk

When administering L-dopa, the nurse must assess for ______.

Sympathetic = fight or flight

• increased HR, BP, RR

• pupil dilation

Parasympathetic = rest and digest

• decreased HR, BP, RR

• pupil constriction

What is the difference between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems?

Irreversible Anticholinesterase Toxicity

_____ is defined as an uncontrolled accumulation of ACh that results from organophosphates binding to and inhibiting acetylcholinesterase.