| Toxicity: |
A belladonna plant alkaloid that exerts its pharmacodynamic effects by blocking muscarinic
acetylcholine receptor sites. The s.c. LD50 of scopolamine
hydrobromide in mice is 3.8 g/kg. Scopolamine crosses the
blood brain barrier, and its antimuscarinic effects include, in
therapeutic doses, drowsiness, euphoria, amnesia, fatigue, loss
of REM sleep and, at higher doses, restlessness or even delirium. Scopolamine can be used to treat motion sickness and
parkinsonian tremor. The effects of scopolamine may be
greater in the CNS than atropine, and it may be a better antidote for organophosphate intoxication. |