NEW LOWER PRICES - ACT FAST
Medicine (MD/DO)
/
Courses
/
Pharmacology
/
Cholinergic Receptor Pharmacology
/
Anticholinergics

Master Anticholinergic Drugs with a Mnemonic

Struggling with anticholinergic drugs? Textbooks leave you confused by names & effects. Ditch frustration and unlock a fun way to learn! Picmonic uses a catchy mnemonic, captivating characters & unforgettable stories to master anticholinergic drugs & their side effects.

DOWNLOAD PDF
Anticholinergics

Anticholinergics

Ant-tie-cola
Picmonic
Anticholinergic drugs act by decreasing cholinergic transmission, and are also known as muscarinic antagonists. Commonly used anticholinergic medications include benztropine, oxybutynin, atropine and scopolamine. These medications work to prevent transmission at muscarinic receptors and therefore prevent a parasympathetic nervous system response.
9 KEY FACTS
B.O.AT.S Acronym
Boats

These drugs can be remembered with the B-O-AT-S acronym, which represents Benztropine, Oxybutynin, Atropine and Scopolamine.

Benztropine
Benz-trooper

Benztropine is a muscarinic antagonist that acts on the CNS, and can be used together with levodopa therapy for Parkinson's patients. It is often used for parkinsonian symptoms which can accompany antipsychotic medications.

Parkinson's Disease
Park-in-sun garage

Benztropine is often used as a second-line agent for Parkinson's disease, and works to antagonize the effects of acetylcholine. This reduces the imbalance between acetylcholine and dopamine, which helps Parkinson's and parkinsonian symptoms.

Oxybutynin
Ox-beauty

Oxybutynin is an antispasmodic medication which inhibits the muscarinic action of acetylcholine on smooth muscle. By decreasing bladder spasms, this drug is indicated for frequent urination and urge incontinence.

Decrease bladder spasms
Down-arrow Bladder spaceship

Oxybutynin works to control overactive bladder by reducing bladder spasms in patients. This reduces frequent urination and urge incontinence.

Atropine
@-trooper

Atropine is a muscarinic antagonist that has numerous uses. It is often used as a cycloplegic and dilates the pupils. It is also used in cases of bradycardia, as it blocks the actions of the vagus nerve, to increase heart rate. It is used for reversal of organophosphate poisoning, and also helps decrease secretions and bronchoconstriction.

Mydriasis and Cycloplegia
Meter-eyes and Eye-paralyzed

Atropine is used in ophthalmologic procedures to induce mydriasis, or pupil dilation, and can also be used to induce cycloplegia, or paralysis of the accommodation reflex.

Scopolamine
Scope-lamb

Scopalamine is a muscarinic antagonist that can be administered orally, intravenously, or transdermally. In addition to the treatment of motion sickness, it has amnestic and sedative properties.

Motion Sickness
Sea sick

Scopalamine is used to treat motion sickness and sea-sickness by blocking muscarinic receptors in the CNS and the vestibular system. It is used over atropine because it is longer acting and has greater action on the CNS.

DOWNLOAD PDF

Recommended Picmonics

picmonic thumbnail
Anticholinergics Continued
picmonic thumbnail
Atropine
picmonic thumbnail
Benztropine (Cogentin)
picmonic thumbnail
Indirect Cholinomimetics
picmonic thumbnail
Pilocarpine (Pilocar)

Take the Anticholinergics Quiz

Picmonic's rapid review multiple-choice quiz allows you to assess your knowledge.

It's worth every penny

Our Story Mnemonics Increase Mastery and Retention

Memorize facts with phonetic mnemonics

Unforgettable characters with concise but impactful videos (2-4 min each)

Memorize facts with phonetic mnemonics

Ace Your Medicine (MD/DO) Classes & Exams with Picmonic:

Over 1,960,000 students use Picmonic’s picture mnemonics to improve knowledge, retention, and exam performance.

Choose the #1 Medicine (MD/DO) student study app.

Picmonic for Medicine (MD/DO) covers information that is relevant to your entire Medicine (MD/DO) education. Whether you’re studying for your classes or getting ready to conquer the USMLE Step 1, USMLE Step 2 CK, COMLEX Level 1, or COMLEX Level 2, we’re here to help.

Works better than traditional Medicine (MD/DO) flashcards.

Research shows that students who use Picmonic see a 331% improvement in memory retention and a 50% improvement in test scores.