A drug which reduces the effects of the parasympathetic nervous system by relaxing smooth muscle, reducing the amount of sweat and saliva produced and widening the pupil of the eye. An example is atropine.
A drug opposing the effects of the ‘parasympathetic nervous system. The actions of parasympatholytic drugs are anticholinergic (i.e. preventing acetylcholine from acting as a neurotransmitter); they include relaxation of smooth muscle, decreased secretion of saliva, sweat, and digestive juices, and dilation of the pupil of the eye. Atropine and similar drugs have these effects; they are used in the treatment of peptic ulcers (e.g. propantheline) and parkinsonism (e.g. chlorphenoxamine), to relieve spasm of smooth muscle, and as mydriatics. Characteristic side-effects include dry mouth, thirst, blurred vision, dry skin, increased heart rate, and difficulty in urination.
Having a destructive effect on or blocking parasympathetic nerve fibers.
Producing effects similar to those resulting from stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system.