Autonomic Drug Summary

Direct activators bethanechol (M), methacholine (M and N), nicotine (N), pilocarpine (M) AChE inhibitors reversible—edrophonium, physostigmine, neostigmine AChE inhibitors irreversible—echothiophate, malathion, parathion 

Muscarinic blockers atropine, benztropine, ipratropium, glycopyrrolate, scopolamine Ganglionic blockers hexamethonium, mecamylamine NMJ blockers  

Nondepolarizing atracurium, pancuronium, tubocurarine Depolarizing succinylcholine 

Mixed dopamine (D( (3j at), epinephrine (a, a2, (3, p2), norepinephrine (a,a2, Pj) indirect-acting amphetamine, cocaine, ephedrine, tyramine 

3 (cardioselective) antagonists acebutolol, atenolol, esmolol, metoprolol 

Indirect activators reversible—edrophonium, physostigmine, neostigmine AChE inhibitors irreversible—echothiophate, malathion, parathion 

Indirect-acting amphetamine, cocaine, ephedrine, tyramine 

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This section provides a review of the anatomy and physiology of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) accompanied by a brief description of some of the important drugs which modify its actions. A summary of the interaction between the immune system and the ANS is also included. An extensive discussion of the anatomy and physiology of the ANS can be found in the Primer on the Autonomic Nervous System (Robertson, 2004). Detailed information on the pharmacology of the ANS can be found in Goodman Gilman s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics (Brunton et al., 2006). 

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