Efficacy and effects of atropine

Atropine is a white crystalline alkaloid extracted from belladonna and other plants of the Solanaceae family, which physiologically acts as an anticholinergic by blocking M-choline receptors. It can relieve smooth muscle spasm, including vasospasm, and also improve microcirculation, and can also play a role in pupil dilation. It also acts as an inhibitor of glandular secretion, which can relieve the vagus nerve’s inhibition of the heart, thus manifesting as dry mouth and rapid heartbeat, and then dilates the pupils, and also excites the respiratory center. Atropine is mainly used clinically for infections and toxic shock, and can also be used to resuscitate patients with organophosphorus poisoning. In addition, atropine can also be used for visceral colic and abdominal pain because of its smooth muscle relieving effect. Also atropine can be used as a preanesthetic drug to reduce the secretion of bronchial mucus, but patients with glaucoma, prostatic hypertrophy or high fever are not suitable for atropine use.