Anticholinergics are drugs that act as bronchodilators of the bronchi or large airways. They are designed to prevent the bronchi from constricting to allow freer breathing. Anticholinergics may be used to treat conditions such as asthma, chronic...
Anticholinergic bronchodilators block parasympathetic nervous fibers, relaxing the smooth muscles in the airway. In other words, these medications reduce the airway constriction experienced by so many asthmatics. Ipratropium bromide and tiotropium...
Overactive bladder, very common in older adults, can be treated with bladder training. You'll be taught techniques that will allow you to resist the urge to urinate, gradually expanding the intervals you can go between voiding.
According to Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist Michael Picco, spastic colon is another name for what doctors call irritable bowel syndrome. The term "spastic colon" arose from motility studies that showed that the colons of people with irritable...
The generically named drug dicyclomine is an anticholinergic/antispasmodic medication marketed under many brand names in the United States, including Bentyl, Norflex, Sanctura, Detrol and Vesicare. Prescription anticholinergic/antispasmodic...
Pain sufferers need relief, and must be treated with the appropriate strength and type of medication for their ailment. Even though most pain can be successfully treated, many patients still suffer needlessly, according to the book "Palliative...
Hydromet is a brand name for a combination of hydrocodone and homatropine methylbromide. Hydrocodone is in a class of medications known as opioid analgesics and antitussives. It is often prescribed for pain management and cough suppression....
In the urinary system, urine is produced in the kidneys and flows through the ureters to the bladder, where it is held until you urinate. The normal functions of the bladder are controlled by muscle activity and nerve signals. An overactive...
Heat stroke is much more severe than heat exhaustion and can be fatal. Any agent that reduces the body's ability to cool can quickly turn heat exhaustion into heat stroke. Cholinergic blocking agents and anti-cholinergic treatments limit sweating...
Dicyclomine is a drug used to treat the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. It works by relieving spasms in the gastrointestinal tract that interfere with normal bowel and digestive functioning. It is available in capsule, tablet, syrup and...
Irritable bowel syndrome, or IBS, is a commonly diagnosed gastrointestinal disorder with symptoms of cramping, bloating, abdominal pain or discomfort, diarrhea and constipation. About 20 percent of adults in the United States have irritable bowel...
Diabetic neuropathy is caused by the long-term effects of uncontrolled blood sugar levels in diabetics. It affects all parts of the body and organ systems. There are various types of neuropathies, and appropriate medications and treatments are...
Urinary incontinence refers to the loss of bladder control. The causes of urinary incontinence include pelvic muscles being too weak, called stress incontinence; pelvic muscles being too active, called urge incontinence; or the blockage of normal...
Neuropathy can be caused by many factors, such as diabetes, injuries, metabolic disorders, diet, toxins, autoimmune diseases or hormonal imbalance. The medicine used to treat neuropathy depends on the underlying cause and accompanying symptoms....
Impacted colon, also known as fecal impaction, occurs when stool becomes hard and dry and is difficult to eliminate from the rectum. As the impaction worsens, it may cause symptoms such as small stools, straining during bowel movements and rectal...
Atropine and medications like it are known as anticholinergics. They block muscarinic receptors, which are a subtype of receptors for acetylcholine. They are widely distributed throughout the autonomic nervous system, which is the part of the...
A variety of medications are responsible for creating the aggravating condition referred to as "dry mouth." Several classes of drugs are designed to work on general areas of the body, but unfortunately are not specific enough and affect other...
Loss of bladder control can be a serious problem, impacting every aspect of your life. The anxiety, embarrassment and discomfort of incontinence is often underestimated. Loss of bladder control can be caused by trauma, such as childbirth or...
Phenyltoloxamine citrate is an antihistamine often added to other over-the-counter medications to intensify cough or pain relief. Antihistamines inhibit the release and actions of the immune system molecule, histamine, which is responsible for...
Stress incontinence, involuntary loss of urine during episodes of sudden increase in intra-abdominal pressure such as coughing, sneezing, bending or laughing, worsens with age and childbearing. As many as 30 percent of elderly women and 15 percent...
Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder caused by damage to dopamine-producing cells. The lack of dopamine in the brain results in mobility problems, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Medication for Parkinson's disease...
Dicyclomine, also known by its trade name, Bentyl, treats painful bowel spasms caused by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Dicyclomine belongs to a class of medications called anticholinergics. Dicyclomine is considered a generally safe drug, and...
When breathing becomes impaired, bronchodilators may relieve the symptoms of breathing difficulties. According to the Cleveland Clinic, bronchospasms result from narrowing of the bronchial airway caused by contraction of smooth muscle. Infections,...
People have two kinds of long-term memory: declarative and procedural. Procedural memory is memory of how to do things, such as how to tie your shoes or ride a bike. Declarative memory consists of semantic memory, or memory of facts, and episodic...
One to two Americans out of every 1,000 have Parkinson's disease, according to Dr. Roger Simon, chairman of neurology at Legacy Health Systems, in the book "Clinical Neurology." As many women suffer with this disease as men. The symptoms initially...
Urge incontinence is the overwhelming need to void followed by involuntary loss of urine. According to the Cleveland Clinic, 20 million people suffer with urinary incontinence. Ten percent of that group has bowel incontinence also. Incontinence is...
Parkinson's disease is a condition in which neurons in the brain are gradually killed. The neurons that are killed are those that produce large quantities of dopamine, which is a chemical that the brain uses to control movement and other actions....
Detrol, also known as tolterodine, is prescribed for symptoms of frequent and or urgent urination and bladder incontinence. Detrol is an anticholinergic medication, meaning it blocks nerves that control muscle contractions in the bladder and...
IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome, is an intestinal condition characterized by abdominal cramps, abdominal bloating, pain and alternating bouts of constipation and diarrhea. Although irritable bowel syndrome can be extremely unpleasant, it does not...
