Uropharmacology: part VI. Parasympathetic depressants

A discussion of the various parasympathetic depressants is presented. Belladonna alkaloids include atropine, the prototype, and scopolamine. Synthetic drugs include quaternary ammonium compounds with antimuscarinic activity such as methantheline, propantheline, and other drugs such as isopropamide, pipenzolate methylbromide, and diphemanil methylsulfate. A miscellaneous class of drugs such as hemicholinium, valethamate, and oxybutynin chloride also possesses parasympathetic depressant activity. The pharmacologic properties and clinical usage of these drugs are discussed.