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Updated: Aug 13, 2026

A Computerized Test Battery to Study Pharmacodynamic Effects on the Central Nervous System of Cholinergic Drugs in Early Phase Drug Development
Published on: February 11, 2019
Preliminary note: dangerous use of anticholinergic drugs in Brazil
1Brazilian Center for Information on Psychotropic Drugs (CEBRID), Departamento de Psicobiologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo.
Abstract:
To better evaluate the non-medical use of anticholinergic substances in Brazil, a review of the local literature was performed. Synthetic compounds such as triexyphenidyl (Artane), benactizine (Asmosterona), dicyclomine (Bentyl) as well as Datura sp. tea were reported as being used by first and second grade students and by street children of several Brazilian cities. In several cases the percentage of youngsters indulging in such use was higher than the percentage found for cocaine, barbiturates, cough syrups and amphetamine-related drugs. Several cases of patients seeking treatment for dependence or for acute psychotic symptoms were also described.
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