Small molecule
PubChem CID 174174
Atropine
AtroPen
- Mechanism of action
- Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, blocks acetylcholine to reverse bradycardia and cholinergic toxicity
- In plain language
- Blocks a chemical messenger called acetylcholine from acting on its receptors throughout the body, which speeds a dangerously slow heartbeat back up and dries up the flood of secretions caused by nerve-agent or pesticide poisoning.
- How it works
- Atropine (AtroPen) is a competitive muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist. Per the FDA label, atropine competitively blocks the effects of acetylcholine, including excess acetylcholine due to organophosphorus poisoning, at muscarinic cholinergic receptors on smooth muscle, cardiac muscle, secretory gland cells, and in peripheral autonomic ganglia and the central nervous system. This reduces secretions in the mouth and respiratory passages, relieves airway constriction, and can reduce centrally-mediated respiratory paralysis. Atropine increases heart rate and reduces atrioventricular conduction time, and adequate doses can prevent or abolish the bradycardia or asystole produced by organophosphorus nerve agents. Atropine does not act at the neuromuscular junction and has no effect on the muscle paralysis, weakness, or fasciculations these agents can also cause.
- Therapeutic applications
- AtroPen (atropine) is FDA-indicated for the treatment of poisoning by susceptible organophosphorus nerve agents with cholinesterase activity, as well as organophosphorus or carbamate insecticides, in adult and pediatric patients, delivered as a single-dose autoinjector for initial field treatment while definitive medical care is sought. The same drug, as a plain injectable formulation, is a separately labeled first-line therapy for bradyasystolic cardiac arrest and symptomatic bradycardia in advanced cardiac life support.
- Class
- Small molecule
- Therapeutic area
- Emergency / Cardiovascular
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