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evlgh
Stranger
Reged: 12/30/03
Posts: 10
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I heard about this medication and I became sorta interested to know what is it. Anyone?
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bhamdave
Threadhead
Reged: 01/11/02
Posts: 953
Loc: U.S.A.
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Atropine is an alkaloid extracted from Atropa belladonna (deadly nightshade) and other plants of the family Solanaceae. It is part of the secondary metabolites of plants.
It is a drug with a wide variety of effects. All of these derive from its blocking of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors; acetylcholine is a neurotransmitter which transmits information from nerve cells to muscles and glands. The muscarinic acetylcholine receptor is used by the parasympathetic nervous system; atropine therefore lowers the activity of all muscles and glands that receive their stimulation via the parasympathetic system.
In overdoses, atropine is poisonous.
The main use of atropine is in dilating the pupil before undergoing eye exams. Atropine containing drops are directly applied to the eye; they perform their action because the muscles responsible for constricting the pupil use muscarinic acetylcholine receptors.
Injections of atropine are used in the treatment of bradycardia (to slow heart rate) and pulseless electrical activity (PEA) in cardiac arrest. This works because the main action of the vagus nerve of the parasympathetic system on the heart is to slow it down. Atropine blocks that action and therefore speeds up the heart rate.
Atropine reduces bronchial and salivary secretion (which are also directed by the parasympathetic system); a dry mouth and increased heart rate are usually among the first effects of the drug.
By blocking the action of acetycholine, atropine also serves as an antidote for organophosphate poisoning, particularly for chemical weapons such as nerve gases. Troops who are likely to be attacked with chemical weapons often carry autoinjectors with atropine which can be quickly injected into the thigh.
Atropine is sometimes added to other potentially addictive drugs; abuse of those drugs is then prevented by the unpleasant effects of atropine overdose.
Adverse reactions to atropine include ventricular fibrillation, supraventricular or ventricular tachycardia, giddiness, nausea, blurred vision, loss of balance, dilated pupils, photophobia, and possibly, notably in the elderly, confusion, hallucinations and excitation. These latter effects are due to the fact that atropine is able to cross the blood-brain barrier. Because of the hallucinogenic properties, some have used the drug recreationally, though this is very dangerous.
In medicine the most common atropine compound used is atropine sulfate (C17H23NO3)2.H2SO4.H2O, the full chemical name is 1α H, 5α H-Tropan-3-α ol (±)-tropate(ester), sulfate monohydrate.
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AIDS
It's not YOUR problem (I hope that)
It's not MY problem (I know that)
But it is still OUR problem and WE know that!
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karmapolice
Stranger
Reged: 11/11/03
Posts: 18
Loc: Toronto
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sounds like quite the lovely drug
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IMSUSCOT1
Threadhead
Reged: 10/23/02
Posts: 882
Loc: usa
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Strong work my little cabana boy!
And one last word...NOT a drug to be used by the un initiated or niave user...for someone who has a normal pulse rate...this drug can produce catastrophic cardiac arrythmias and lead to death! And if you're actually thinking of using this to dialate your pupils, NOT a good idea....pupils that can't constrict to light are BEGGING to be "blinded by the light" as the song goes! It's quite dangerous to override reflexive pupillary constriction...and honestly, NO-ONE even notices your pupils and whether they are "oddly" over constricted...only YOU notice it & that's because you're LOOKING for it....
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astrip
Stranger
Reged: 01/06/04
Posts: 11
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There's a curious fact about atropine ...
Hitler's Jewish doctor, Dr. Theodor Morrell, gave him vitamins, glucose, and from 1 to 77 different drugs. Also, Hitler was given pills which contained strychnine and atropine, until the situation was rectified by another doctor.
Not to mention that, in addition, from 1942 Morell gave Hitler daily injections of Pervitin (methamphetamine.) Many of The Führer's clinical signs and symptoms of madness may have been caused by his exotic drug regimen.
On another, more positive note, it should be said that better documented is the fact that between 1936-1945, Adolf Hitler's personal physician Theodore Morell would commonly inject Hitler with Eukodal (a narcotic like morphine) which is a highly addictive drug. The reaction would give Hitler a sense of euphoria. He felt invincible and often expressed extreme gratitude towards Morrell.
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evlgh
Stranger
Reged: 12/30/03
Posts: 10
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Hitler had such a twisted personality ...
He had fallen in love with the image he, himself, created and did his utmost to forget that behind it there is quite another Hitler who was a very despicable fellow. He was hardly more successful in this, manouvre than any other hysteric. Secret fears and anxieties that belie the reality of the image keep cropping up to shake his confidence and security. He may rationalize these fears or displace them but they continue to haunt him. Underneath, Hitler was a bundle of fears. Some were at least partially justified, others seem to be groundless. For example, he had a fear of cancer for many years. Ordinarily he feared that he had a cancer in his stomach since he was always bothered with indigestion. The assurances of his doctors were all to no avail.
Then he had fears of being poisoned, fears of being assassinated, fears of losing his health, fears of gaining weight, fears of treason, fears of losing his mystical guidance, fears of anesthetics, fears of premature death, fears that his mission will not be fulfilled, etc. Every conceivable precaution must be taken to reduce these dangers, real and imagined, to a minimnm. In later years, the fear of betrayal and possible assassination by one of his associates seemed to have grown considerably. The result of these fears, as it is with almost every hysteric, is a narrowing of the world in which he lives. Haunted by these fears, he distrusted everyone, even those closest to him. He could not establish any close friendships for fear of being betrayed or being discovered as he really was.
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NJ_Hoss
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/29/03
Posts: 263
Loc: USA
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Actually, Atropine is fundamentally used to inhibit muscle action, which is why it is useful for treating the aforementioned cardiac symptoms, dilating pupils, among other needs.
Another common use is as an ingredient component in Lomotil (Lonox), which is used to treat diarrhea. It reduces the spasming, or motility, of the bowel, which when combined with the inherently constipating action of its narcotic component, diphenoxylate hydrochloride.
I hope this helps!
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