RT Book, Section A1 Ciccone, Charles D. A1 Bednarek, Melissa L. A1 Miller, Kenneth L. SR Print(0) ID 1188529225 T1 Cholinergic Drugs T2 Pharmacology in Rehabilitation, 5e YR 2022 FD 2022 PB F. A. Davis Company PP New York, NY SN 9781719645348 LK fadavispt.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1188529225 RD 2024/03/29 AB Cholinergic drugs affect the activity at cholinergic synapses—that is, synapses using acetylcholine as a neurotransmitter. Cholinergic synapses are important in several physiological systems. As discussed in Chapter 18, acetylcholine is one of the primary neurotransmitters in the autonomic nervous system (ANS), especially in the parasympathetic autonomic division. Consequently, physicians administer many of the drugs discussed in this chapter to alter the response of various tissues to autonomic parasympathetic control. Acetylcholine is also the neurotransmitter at the skeletal neuromuscular junction. Certain cholinergic stimulants are used to treat a specific problem at the skeletal neuromuscular junction (e.g., myasthenia gravis). The brain contains cholinergic synapses in specific areas, and some anticholinergic drugs decrease the symptoms of diverse problems such as parkinsonism and motion sickness. Cholinergic stimulants effectively increase activity at acetylcholine synapses, whereas anticholinergic drugs decrease synaptic activity. Cholinergic stimulants and anticholinergic agents can be further characterized according to functional or pharmacodynamic criteria, and these criteria will be discussed as well.