Cholinergic drugs

Autonomic nervous system drugs

Cholinergic drugs

Cholinergic drugs promote the action of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. These drugs are also called parasympathomimetic drugs because they produce effects that imitate parasympatheticnerve stimulation.

Mimickers and inhibitors

There are two major classes of cholinergic drugs:

·                 Cholinergic agonists mimic the action of the neurotransmit-ter acetylcholine.

·     Anticholinesterase drugs work by inhibiting the destructionof acetylcholine at the cholinergic receptor sites. (See Howcholinergic drugs work)