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Biological: Behavioural genetics · Evolutionary psychology · Neuroanatomy · Neurochemistry · Neuroendocrinology · Neuroscience · Psychoneuroimmunology · Physiological Psychology · Psychopharmacology (Index, Outline)


An acetylcholinesterase inhibitor or anti-cholinesterase is a chemical that inhibits the cholinesterase enzyme from breaking down acetylcholine, so increasing both the level and duration of action of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
Contents
Uses[edit | edit source]
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors:
- occur naturally as venoms and poisons
- are used as weapons in the form of nerve agents
- are used medicinally:
- to treat myasthenia gravis. In myasthenia gravis, they are used to increase neuromuscular transmission.
- to treat Alzheimer's disease
- as an antidote to anticholinergic poisoning
Examples[edit | edit source]
reversible inhibitor[edit | edit source]
Compounds which function as reversible competitive or noncompetitive inhibitors of cholinesterase are those most likely to have therapeutic uses. These include:
- Organophosphates
- Carbamates
- Phenanthrine derivatives
- Piperidines
- donepezil, also known as E2020
- Tacrine, also known as tetrahydroaminoacridine (THA')
- Edrophonium
- Phenothiazines
Comparison table[edit | edit source]
Inhibitor | Duration[1] | Main site of action[1] | Clinical use[1] | Adverse effects[1] |
---|---|---|---|---|
edrophonium | short | neuromuscular junction | diagnosis of myasthenia gravis | |
neostigmine | medium | neuromuscular junction |
|
visceral |
physiostigmine | medium | postganglionic parasympathetic | treat glaucoma (eye drops) | |
pyridostigmine | medium | neuromuscular junction |
|
|
dyflos | long | postganglionic parasympathetic | historically to treat glaucoma (eye drops) | toxic |
ecothiopate | long | postganglionic parasympathetic | treat glaucoma (eye drops) | systemic effects |
parathion | long | none | toxic |
quasi-irreversible inhibitor[edit | edit source]
Compounds which function as quasi-irreversible inhibitors of cholinesterase are those most likely to have use as chemical weapons or pesticides. These include:
Natural Compounds (Supplements)[edit | edit source]
Effects[edit | edit source]
Some major effects of anticholinesterases:
- Actions on the autonomic nervous system, that is parasympathetic nervous system will cause bradycardia, hypotension, hypersecretion, bronchoconstriction, GI tract hypermotility, and decrease intraocular pressure.
- SLUD syndrome.
- Actions on the neuromuscular junction will result in prolonged muscle contraction.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External links[edit | edit source]
Psychoanaleptics: anti-dementia drugs (N06D) | |
---|---|
Anticholinesterases | |
Other |
Parasympathomimetics (N07A) | |
---|---|
Anticholinesterases |
Stigmine (Neostigmine, Pyridostigmine, Distigmine) - Ambenonium |
Choline esters | |
Other parasympathomimetics |
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