Tacrine Anticholinergics

When Hie cholinesterase inhibitors are administered with the anticholinergic drugp, there is a potential decrease in activity of the anticholinergic drug. There is an increased risk of toxicity of theophylline when the cholinesterase inhibitors are administered with tacrine There is a synergistic effect when tacrine is administered with succinyl-choline, cholinesterase inhibitors, or cholinergic agonists (eg, bethanechol). 

Drugs that may be affected by tacrine include anticholinergics, cholinomimetics, cholinesterase inhibitors, and theophylline. 

Tacrine may interact with anticholinergic agents and the combination may decrease the efficacy of both agents... 

Fusek, J. (1977). Tacrin and its analogues, antidotes against psychotomimetics with anticholinergic effects. Voj. Zdrav. Listy 46 21-7. (In Czech). 

Gershon and Angrlst (247) summarized fch research that had been done vlth Ditran and other anticholinergic psychotomimetic compounds and with possible antagonists of their psychotomimetic activities Nothing particularly new was reported In this paper. Tacrine is regarded as the best overall antagonist. 

Sometimes the determination of enzyme crystal structures requires that a substrate be bound to the enzyme. The crystal structures of hCEl in complex with homatro-pine, an anticholinergic drug, tacrine, a cholinesterase inhibitor, or naloxone, an opioid antagonist, have been... 

Because of its mechanism of action, tacrine has the potential to interfere with the activity of anticholinergic medications. A synergistic effect is expected when tacrine is given concurrently with succinylcholine, cholinesterase inhibitors, or cholinergic agonists, such as bethanecol. Coadministration of tacrine with theophylline increases theophylline elimination half-life and average plasma concentrations. 

Overdosage with cholinesterase inhibitors can cause a cholinergic crisis characterized by severe nausea, vomiting, salivation, sweating, bradycardia, hypotension, and seizures. Increasing muscle weakness may occur and can result in death if respiratory muscles are involved. Tertiary anticholinergics, such as atropine, may be used as an antidote for tacrine overdosage. 

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