subject: Advanced Cardiac Life Support: Atropine [print this page] Advanced Cardiac Life Support: Atropine Advanced Cardiac Life Support: Atropine
Atropine is classified as an anticholinergic drug. It is extracted from plants of the Solanaceae family and is capable of many different effects. Since it can be possibly deadly, its name was derived from the Greek mythology of Atropos, who was one of the Fates. His mission was to choose how each person would die. This drug is considered so important that it is listed as an essential drug in the World Health Organization's list of basic healthcare systems minimum medical needs.
Atropine is used in injection form for the treatment of extremely low heart rates (bradycardia). It is also used in patients with pulseless electrical activity and asystole in cardiac arrest. The reason Atropine is so effective against these conditions is its major effect on the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve can decrease the heart rate. Atropine works to block this from occurring and increases the heart rate. Patients in bradyasystolic arrest (a serious slowing of the heart rate) are usually given an intravenous push, with continued doses every 3 to 5 minutes up to the maximum safe dosage. For patients with symptomatic bradycardia (heart rate under 60 beats per minute while resting, with symptoms) IV push is also used and repeated up to the maximum dosage.
This drug is also used in the treatment of certain heart blockages, but should not be used in blockages that are caused by ischemia induced conduction block as Atropine can cause the condition to worsen. Atropine also has the ability to inhibit the parasympathetic nervous system's stimulation of the muscarinic receptor, which is in the heart.
The adverse reactions to this drug include supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, dizziness, ventricular tachycardia, nausea, loss of balance, blurred vision, dry mouth, dilated pupils, hallucinations, confusion and excitation, which is often seen in elderly patients. Because Atropine can cause hallucinations, some have used it as a recreational drug although it can be very dangerous and usually unpleasant.
Atropine is poisonous when overdosed. It is sometimes put in addictive drugs such as anti-diarrhea opioids. This drug can cause the heart rate to slow when it is given in very low dosages, even though it is used for emergency cases of slow heart rates. If Atropine is given in too high of amounts, a person can become incapacitated, and pilocarpine or physostigmine should be given as an antidote.
