anticholinergic

adjective

an·​ti·​cho·​lin·​er·​gic ˌan-tē-ˌkō-lə-ˈnər-jik  ˌan-tī- 

: opposing or blocking the physiologic action of acetylcholine

The more sedating tricyclic antidepressant drugs … are more likely to produce orthostatic hypotension and such adverse anticholinergic effects as urinary hesitancy, constipation, dry mouth, and blurred vision …

—Patricia N. Prinz et al.

… anticholinergic drugs used to treat a broad range of conditions, from overactive bladder to bronchial spasms.

—Melinda Beck

anticholinergic noun

Examples of anticholinergic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

These are often comprised of a combination of a medicine to open airways (a bronchodilator, but commonly a long-acting formulation is used in people with COPD, except those with very mild COPD) along with an inhaled anticholinergic medicine, also called an antimuscarinic. —Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 14 Oct. 2022

This drug is a cholinesterase inhibitor which works by preventing the normal breakdown of acetylcholine, Dr. Stolbach explains, which then pushes more acetylcholine into the brain's synapses and counters the anticholinergic effects of diphenhydramine. —Sarah Jacoby, SELF, 4 Sep. 2020

These regular users were more likely to be women, have less education, have a chronic illness, and regularly take anticholinergic and opioid drugs. —Kyla Russell, CNN, 22 Feb. 2023

An article on Monday about unusual symptoms people experienced after eating contaminated spinach described incorrectly the way that anticholinergic plants and drugs affect the brain chemical called acetylcholine. —New York Times, 23 Dec. 2022

In Victoria, health officials said the clinical symptoms presented by consumers of the spinach products were suggestive of anticholinergic syndrome. —Leo Sands, Washington Post, 16 Dec. 2022

Alkaloid drugs offer a wide variety of medical uses, due to their anticholinergic and antispasmodic properties. —Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 16 Mar. 2022

Hospital Melbourne, the syndrome can be triggered through the accidental ingestion of anticholinergic agents, including deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna), jimson weed, Mandrake root, lupin beans and angel’s trumpet. —Leo Sands, Washington Post, 16 Dec. 2022

The second are inhaled anticholinergic drugs, like ipratropium. —Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 6 Sep. 2022

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Word History

First Known Use

1942, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

anticholinergic

1 of 2 adjective

an·​ti·​cho·​lin·​er·​gic -ˌkō-lə-ˈnər-jik 

: opposing or blocking the physiological action of acetylcholine

anticholinergic

2 of 2 noun

: a drug having an anticholinergic action