Antispasmodic effects

Atropine and scopolamine have antispasmodic effects on the gastrointestinal tract. It partly inhibits vagal influence in the gut, reducing motility. However, the enteric nervous system also employs serotonin and dopamine, so parasympathetic innervation plays a modulatory role. 

Nonetheless, a sufficient dose will reduce or temporarily halt peristalsis (Brown and Taylor 1996). Some effects on esophageal peristalsis may be mediated by central mechanisms (Bieger 1984). Atropine reduces the tone and contractions of the ureter and bladder, and has antispasmodic effects on the gallbladder and bile duct. Negligible effects are produced on uterine contractions. Sweat glands are inhibited by atropine, and it can impair thermoregulation, especially in hot environments. Cardiac Effects... 

Hazelhoff B, MalingreTM, Meijer DK. (1982). Antispasmodic effects of valeriana compounds an in-vivo and in-vitro study on the guinea-pig ileum. Arch Int Pharmacodyn Then. 257(2) 274-87. 

Pharmacology Oxybutynin exerts direct antispasmodic effect on smooth muscle and inhibits the muscarinic action of acetylcholine on smooth muscle. 

Mechanism of Action An anticholinergic agent that exerts an atropine-like action and produces an antispasmodic effect on smooth muscle, is a potent mydriatic, and inhibits salivation. Therapeutic Effect Relieves symptoms of Parkinson s disease and drug-induced extrapyramidal symptoms. 

Gilani AH, Khan AU, Ghayur MN, Ali SF, Herzig JW. 2006. Antispasmodic effects of Rooibos tea (Aspalathus linearis) is mediated predominantly through K + -channel activation. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 99 365-373. 

Meperidine is available in the form of tablets (50 mg) for oral use or in solution (50 mg/ml) for intramuscular administration. It is administered in doses of 50 to 100 mg at 3- to 4-h intervals. Because of its antispasmodic effects, it is particularly useful in pain due to colic. It is also used prior to anesthesia, particularly cyclopropane. Meperidine is used in asthma, but its tendency to addiction limits its use in this condition to acute attacks. 

A depressant effect on the central nervous system and an antispasmodic effect was found in the case of 2-oxo-2-pyrrolidino-l,3,2-dioxaphospholanes and phosphorinanes [225, 226],... 

Acepromazine has been shown to reduce the incidence of halothane-induced malignant hyperthermia in susceptible pigs. Its protective action may result from a combination of its tranquillizing, hypothermic and/or antispasmodic effects. There are anecdotal reports that suggest that... 

Antispasmodic effect lowered lone and motility of the GI tract and the genitourinary tract... 

Colitis may result from various gut infections, especially amoebic colitis. Clindamycin, vancon cin or metronidazole may be used in treatment. The diarrhoea of colitis states may be treated with normal ANTIDIARRHOEALS, e.g. the opioids codeine, morphine, diphenoxylate and loperamide. The colic may respond to ANTISPASMODICS, e.g. the anticholinergics atropine, hyoscine, dicyclomine, propantheline. Meheverine is a direct-acting antispasmodic effective in some types of gut colic. 

Because of their antispasmodic effects, tropane alkaloids are also used to relieve spasms of the bowel in the treatment of spastic colitis and gastro-enteritis. 

Herbs claimed or shown to have antispasmodic effects, in vitro and/or in vivo, and to be antitussive, include Adhartoda vasica (malibar nut), Petasites hybridus (butterbur). Ephedra sinica (ephedra), Mentha peperita (peppermint), Atropa species (atropine). Curcuma longa (turmeric), Ocimum sanctum (basil), and Piper longum (pepper). 

The utility of adrenaline in the treatment of asthma, as mentioned before, is due to its bronchodilation and antispasmodic effect. However, its poor oral bioavailability of around 3 %, and the short half-Hfe of around 2 minutes, are... 

The combination of peppermint and caraway essential oils has been shown to act locally in the gut as an antispasmodic (Mickle eld et al., 2000, 2003) and to have a relaxing effect on the gallbladder (Goerg and Spilker, 2003). The antispasmodic effect of peppermint is well documented and that of caraway essential oil has also been demonstrated (Reiter and Brandt, 1985). The latter alone has also been shown to inhibit gallbladder contractions in healthy volunteers, increasing gallbladder volume by 90% (Goerg and Spilker, 1996). 

The seeds of F. vulgare have been used in traditional remedies for the treatment of dysmenorrhea, an action attributed to the antispasmodic effect of the essential oil. An in vitro experiment demonstrated that fennel essential oil inhibited ojQ tocin- and prostaglandin E2-induced contractions of isolated uterus the former was considered to have a similar activity to diclofenac, a nonsteroidal anti-in ammatory drug. The overall mechanism of action is still unknown (Ostad et al., 2001). 

---