Anticholinergic Medications
An anticholinergic agent is a substance that blocks the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the central and the peripheral nervous system.
It reduces spasms of smooth muscles (for example, muscles in the bladder).
Side effects of anticholinergic medications include dry mouth and related dental problems, blurred vision, tendency toward overheating (hyperpyrexia), and in some cases, dementia-like symptoms. These medicines are known to cause confusion, memory loss, worsening of mental function, and other cognitive effects in the elderly.
Please discuss your medications concerns with your doctor.
Do not start or stop taking any medications without consulting your doctor.
Antihistamines, Allergy, Cough & Cold Medicines
| GENERIC NAME | COMMON BRAND NAME(S) |
|---|---|
| Azelastine nasel spray | Astepro™ |
| Brompheniramine | Dimetane Extentab™, Cophene B™, Dimetapp Allergy™, Bromax™ |
| Carbinoxamine | Palgic™, Carboxine™, Arbinoxa™, Karbinal ER™ |
| Chlorpheniramine | Chlor-Trimeton™, Chlor-Trimeton Allergy SR™, Allergy Relief™, Chlorphen™ |
| Clemastine Tavist | Tavist-1™, Dayhist-1™, Leader Allerhist™ |
| Cyproheptadine Periactin | Periactin™ |
| Dexbrompheniramine | Ala-Hist IR™ |
| Dexchlorpheniramine | Polaramine™ |
| Diphenhydramine | Benadryl™, Sominex™, Diphenhist™, Wal-Dryl™, Banophen™, Hydramine™, Dicopanol™ |
| Hydroxyzine | Vistaril™, Atarax™ |
| Mepyramine | Medivet™, Kenya™; Anergol Nasal™ |
| Olopatadine | Pataday™, Patanol™, Patanase™ |
| Phenyltoloxamine | Dologesic™, Relagesic™ |
| Promethazine | Phenadoz™, Phenergan™, Promethegan™ |
| Triprolidine | Zymine™ |
Anxiety
| GENERIC NAME | COMMON BRAND NAME(S) |
|---|---|
| Hydroxyzine | Vistaril™, Atarax™ |
Bladder Antispasmodics
| GENERIC NAME | COMMON BRAND NAME(S) |
|---|---|
| Darifenacin | Enablex™ |
| Flavoxate | Urispas™ |
| Oxybutynin | Gelnique™, Ditropan™, Oxytrol™ |
| Propantheline | Pro-Banthine™ |
| Solifenacin | VESIcare™ |
| Tolterodine | Detrol™ |
| Trospium | Sanctura™ |
Motion Sickness, Dizziness & Nausea
| GENERIC NAME | COMMON BRAND NAME(S) |
|---|---|
| Dimenhydrinate | Dramamine™, Dymenate™, Triptone™, Calm-X™ |
| Meclizine | Antivert™, Verticalm™, Bonine™ |
| Prochlorrperazine | Compro™ |
| Promethazine | Phenadoz™, Phenergan™, Promethegan™ |
| Scopolamine | Transderm-Scop™, Scopace™, Maldemar™ |
| Trimethobenzamide | Tigan™ |
Movement Disorders
| GENERIC NAME | COMMON BRAND NAME(S) |
|---|---|
| Amantadine | Symmetrel™ |
| Benztropine | Cogentin™ |
| Procyclidine | Kemadrin™ |
| Trihexyphenidyl | Artane™, Trihexy™, Trihexane™ |
| Orphenadrine | Norflex™ |
Muscle Spasms & Pain-Muscle Relaxants
| GENERIC NAME | COMMON BRAND NAME(S) |
|---|---|
| Cyclobenzaprine | Amrix™, Fexmid™, Flexeril™ |
| Meperidine | Demerol™ |
| Orphenadrine | Norflex™ |
| Phenyltoloxamine | Cafgesic Forte™, Combiflex ES™, Durabac Forte™ |
Stomach & GI Tract – Ulcer & Reflux
| GENERIC NAME | COMMON BRAND NAME(S) |
|---|---|
| Cimetidine | Tagamet™, Tagamet HB™, Equaline Acid Reducer™ |
| Glycopyrrolate | Robinul™, Cuvposa™ |
| Ranitidine | Zantac™, Deprizine™ |
Stomach & GI Tract GI Antispasmodics
| GENERIC NAME | COMMON BRAND NAME(S) |
|---|---|
| Atropine | Belladonna™ |
| Alkaloids | |
| Clidinnium | Librax™, Clindex™, Chlordinium™ |
| Dicyclomine | Bentyl™ |
| Hyoscyamine | Anaspaz™, Cystospaz™, Donnamar™, Levsin™ |
| Methscopolamine | Pamine™ |
| Propantheline | Pro-Banthine™ |
Seizures & Mood Disorders
| GENERIC NAME | COMMON BRAND NAME(S) |
|---|---|
| Carbamazepine | Tegretol™, Carbatrol™, Epitol™, Tegretol XR™ |
Insomnia & Sleep
| GENERIC NAME | COMMON BRAND NAME(S) |
|---|---|
| Diphenhydramine | Benadryl™, Sominex™, Diphenhist™, Wal-Dryl™, Banophen™, Hydramine™, Dicopanol™ |
| Doxylamine | Sleep Aid Tablets™, Unisom SleepTabs™, Equate Sleep Aid™, Nytol Maximum Strength™ |
Antipsychotics
| GENERIC NAME | COMMON BRAND NAME(S) |
|---|---|
| Chlorpromazine | Thorazine™, Ormazine™ |
| Clozapine | Clozaril™, FazaClo™ |
| Loxapine | Loxitane™ |
| Molindone | Moban™ |
| Olanzapine | Zyprexa™ |
| Pimozide | Orap™ |
| Perphenazine | Trilafon™ |
| Promethazine | Phenadoz™, Phenergan™, Promethegan™ |
| Quetiapine | Seroquel™ |
| Thioridazine | Mellaril™, Mellaril-S™ |
| Trifluoperazine | Stelazine™ |
Asthma & COPD
| GENERIC NAME | COMMON BRAND NAME(S) |
|---|---|
| Glycopyrrolate | Robinul™, Cuvposa™ |
| Ipratropium* | Atrovent™ |
| Tiotropium* | Spiriva™ |
| * Unknown whether central nervous system effects are important |
Tricyclic Antidepressants
| GENERIC NAME | COMMON BRAND NAME(S) |
|---|---|
| Amitriptyline | Vanatrip™, Elavil™, Endep™ |
| Clomipramine | Anafranil™ |
| Desipramine | Norpramin™ |
| Doxepin | Silenor™, Zonalon™, Prudoxin™ |
| Imipramine | Tofranil, Tofranil-pm |
| Nortriptyline | Pamelor™ |
| Protriptyline | Vivactil™ |
| Trimipramine | Surmontil™ |
There is more information on medications on our Helpful Links page.
However, it is not a complete list of side effects, or interactions. This is intended to be used independently with the directions of a physician who knows the person well.
Dr Liz Geriatrics cannot be responsible for any outcomes of these medications that have not been evaluated by myself or one of my clinicians.
We present this summary to give practitioners and the public some information about medications that have been important in the care of our patients. In this challenging area of medical care, we hope that it is of use.