Atropine is a drug and poison: what it is, how it works, use in medicine, interaction with other drugs, side effects

Atropine is a natural alkaloid that is used in medicine. Read more in the article.

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Atropine - This is a natural alkaloid contained in a plant like Atropa Belladonna. Most often used in the manufacture of eye drops, and is also widely used in other areas of medicine.

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What are the properties of atropine? What are the indications and contraindications for its application? What interactions and side effects should be remembered when using this substance? Read more about this in the article below.

What is atropine: where was used earlier?

Atropine is a natural and quite well -known alkaloid tropin. In the wild, it is found, for example, in plants of the nightshade family. One of these plants is belladonna or Atropa Belladonna.

In the old days, this alkaloid was used for completely different purposes than today:

Roman women used extracts from hives of wolf berries for cosmetic purposes.
After rubbing the drug, so desired by the ladies of blush appeared on the cheeks (due to the expansion of blood vessels).
Atropine was also used in the past to poison the wolves (hence the Polish name Laichi).
This substance in large doses can cause cardiac arrest.

The second most popular plant containing atropine - "Black chicken" or "Hyoscyamus niger". Its poisonous properties were known even in ancient Egypt and Persia, and it was used, for example, to poison arrows.

In the Middle Ages, this plant was considered magical. It was one of the ingredients of a love drink, and clairvoyants, having drunk it, entered a trance during which they predicted the future. As a poison, it was used to combat all rodents.

Atropine: How works, action

Atropine paralyzes the ends of the parasympathetic nervous system, blocking muscarin receptors (this is a group of receptors located on cell membranes), which leads to inhibition of the secretory function of the glands. The smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract, bronchi and urinary tract are also relaxed, the pupils expand and the pulse quickens.

It is worth knowing: In high doses, this substance causes the so -called “atropine ko”. This is the old method of treating mental illness - used for schizophrenia, resistant to antipsychotics, is not used in modern medicine.

As mentioned above, atropine is most often in the composition of eye drops. This substance is also widely used in other areas of medicine. It can not only paralyze the ciliary muscle and expand the pupils, but also affects other organs and systems, for example:

Exocrine glands - the secretion of sweat, saliva, digestive enzymes, mucus in the bronchi is inhibited.
The heart muscle - the frequency of heart contractions and cardiac output increases.
The urinary system - reduces the tension of the smooth muscles of the walls of the bladder and ureters.
Respiratory routes - relaxes smooth muscles, reduces the secretion of mucus.
The digestive tract - weakens the tension of the smooth muscles of the digestive tract, reduces the secretion of gastric juice, slows down intestinal motility.

Atropine also has an anti -rate effect.

Atropine: the use of this poison and drug in medicine

Atropine is a drug (it is also called a drug or poison), which today is widely used in various fields of medicine:

They instill in the eyes to expand the pupils, which allows and facilitates the correct conduct of diagnostic tests. This substance is also used for some ophthalmic diseases - inflammation of the ciliary body and irritation, as well as for diagnostic refraction tests in children.
Atropine is used in cardiology to treat arrhythmias.
This substance is also used for diseases of the digestive system. In spastic conditions of smooth muscles of the abdominal cavity, including liver and intestinal colic and peptic ulcer.
It is used in the treatment of diseases of the biliary tract and ureters, for example, with renal colic.

This substance is also used in anesthesiology, or rather, introduced before general anesthesia.

Atropine: Contraindications

Like all drugs, atropine, despite its indications, can not always be used and not every person is suitable. The main contraindications include:

Increased sensitivity to substance
The obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract
Pyloric stenosis
Gastric reflux

Important: Patients who drive vehicles should not be used due to possible visual impairments.

Interaction of drugs with atropine with other active substances

Before starting atropine treatment, tell your doctor about all the medicines that you take. These drugs can interact with each other, sometimes even enduring the health or life of the patient. It is worth knowing about the interaction of drugs with atropine with other active substances.

Substances that enhance the effect of atropine include:

Drugs that block histamine receptors (used in the treatment of allergies)
Tricyclic antidepressants
MAO inhibitors (monoaminoxidase)
Derivatives of benzodiazepine
Means that reduce the PH of gastric juice (used, for example, in the treatment of heartburn)
Corticosteroids - used in the treatment of, for example, asthma or atopic dermatitis
Haloperit or haloperidol

It is worth noting that glycosides used in heart failure reduce the effect of atropine.

Atropine and alcohol

The use of alcohol during atropine may cause:

Violation of concentration of attention
Reflex delay
Violation of coordination of movements
Reducing psychomotor performance
Excessive drowsiness
Slow down in psychomotor reactions
Threatening fainting for life
In extreme cases, even death

Alcohol does not combine with any drugs, and even more so, with poisons, such as atropine.

Atropine: side effects, poisoning

Like all drugs, atropine can cause side effects and with an overdose - poisoning. These conditions will not proceed the same for all patients. It all depends on the general condition of the person, other concomitant diseases and the drugs taken. The most frequent side effects include:

Increased intraocular pressure
The extension of the pupil
Photophobia and clouding of vision
Dryness of the mucous membranes
Reducing sweat secretion
Constipation
Urine delay
Acceleration of gastroesophageal reflux
Arrhythmia
Drowsiness, anxiety, excitement of the nervous system
Allergic reactions - urticaria, redness of the skin
Improving body temperature

With atropine poisoning, it is necessary to neutralize the action of this substance. This can be done by introducing antidotes. They help to cope with the neurotoxic effect of poison and prevent its complications. The procedure is mandatory. The following drugs are used:

The listed drugs quickly stop hallucinations and other symptoms of intoxication.

Pregnancy and lactation: atropine treatment

Unfortunately, it is still unknown whether this drug can pose a danger to the fetus, since there are no studies that would give an answer to this question. The same can be said about the treatment of atropine and breastfeeding. No one conducted any research on this, which could be relying on. Therefore, it is assumed that this product can be used during pregnancy, only if, according to the doctor, the benefits for the mother exceeds the potential risk to the fetus.

During lactation, the drug is better not to use. If you can’t do without such a drug, then it is worth expressing milk, and the child is fed at this time with a mixture. But more often doctors prescribe the cancellation of breastfeeding at all.