Substance
Atropine and anticholinergic agents

Pathology
Acetylcholine blockade at muscarinic receptor sites; affects exocrine glands and cardiac tissue.

Symptoms
Dry mouth and burning pain in throat, thirst, blurred vision, mydriasis, dry, hot, flushed skin, hyperpyrexia, tachycardia, palpitations, restlessness, excitement, confusion, convulsions, delirium; rarely, death.

Emergency Measures
Airway maintenance and ventilation assistance, gastric lavage, activated charcoal and cathartic, diazepam for sedation and control of convulsions, physostigmine 0.5–1 mg IV for severe atropine toxicity, cooling measures for hyperthermia.

Comments
Classes of drugs that possess anticholinergic activity include antihistamines, antipsychotics, antispasmodics, cyclic antidepressants, and skeletal muscle relaxants. Atropine in ophthalmic preparations may be toxic to infants/young children.