Types of medicine
What Does Anticholinergic Mean on a Medicine Label?
Anticholinergic · say it: AN-tee-koh-lin-ER-jikAlso written: anticholinergics, antimuscarinic, anticholinergic effects, anticholinergic burden
Short answer
Anticholinergic describes medicines that block acetylcholine, a nerve messenger, which can cause dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision and confusion.
What it means
Acetylcholine is a chemical messenger the nerves use to control many automatic body functions, such as saliva, bowel movement, bladder emptying and some memory processes. Anticholinergic medicines block it. Some are used on purpose, for example for an overactive bladder or COPD; others have this effect as a side effect, including older antihistamines, tricyclic antidepressants and some antipsychotics.
Labels mention anticholinergic effects because they can cause dry mouth, constipation, trouble passing urine, blurred vision, fast heartbeat, overheating and confusion. Older adults are more sensitive, and taking several such medicines adds up (sometimes called 'anticholinergic burden'). Labels also warn people with angle-closure glaucoma or prostate enlargement.
Anticholinergic is different from 'antihistamine', although many older antihistamines are also anticholinergic.
Where you may see it
- 'Warnings' sections of overactive bladder, tricyclic and older antihistamine labels
- Over-the-counter sleep aid leaflets
- Medication reviews for older adults
📄 How it looks on a report
Use with caution in patients with narrow-angle glaucoma or urinary retention due to anticholinergic effects.
🙅 What it does not mean
- It does not mean the medicine is the wrong choice for you; many people take them without trouble.
- Confusion in an older person on these medicines is not 'just age'; it should be checked.
- It does not only apply to prescription medicines; some sleep and allergy tablets have this effect.
🎯 Check yourself
Which of these is the right meaning of “Anticholinergic”?
🗒️ Questions to ask your doctor
💊 Medicines whose labels mention “Anticholinergic”
Plain-English explanations of each medicine, from its official FDA label.
- Diphenhydramine Hydrochloride
an antihistamine (an antihistaminic agent) given by injection into a vein or deep into a muscle
- Metoclopramide
A stomach and gut medicine. The label describes it as affecting how the stomach and intestines move. The label does not give an FDA drug class.
- Quetiapine
An atypical antipsychotic medicine
🔗 Read more from trusted sources
- “Anticholinergic” on MedlinePlus ↗
US National Library of Medicine
Seeing this word on your own report? Get every line of it explained, free.
Explain my report🧩 Related words
🔎 Look up another word
More words: types of medicine
General information about a medical word, not advice about your own results. Ask the clinician who ordered the test what it means for you.