Glycopyrrolate compared with atropine in association with ketamine anaesthesia

Atropine and glycopyrrolate given intravenously before the induction of a ketamine anaesthesia to diminish salivary secretion were compared for their effect on psychotomimetic side-effects, awakening time and heart rate. Though atropine is a tertiary amine that crosses the blood-brain barrier, which glycopyrrolate as a quaternary ammonium compound does not, it did not increase the incidence of psychotomimetic side-effects nor did it significantly prolong the awakening time after ketamine anaesthesia. During intubation the increase in heart rate was significantly higher following atropine than following glycopyrrolate.