Drugs & Medication

A parasympathomimetic is a drug or poison that acts by stimulating or mimicking the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). These chemicals are also called cholinergics because acetylcholine (ACh) is the neurotransmitter used by the PNS. Chemicals in this family can act by either directly stimulating the nicotinic or muscarinic receptors, or they can act indirectly by inhibiting cholinesterase, promoting acetylcholine release, or other mechanisms. Some Chemical weapons such as sarin or VX, Non-lethal riot control agents such as tear gas, and insecticides such as Diazinon fall into this category.

Pharmaceuticals

• Direct acting
  • Choline Esters
    • Acetylcholine
    • Bethanechol
      Carbachol
  • Plant Alkaloids
    • Nicotine
    • Muscarine
    • Pilocarpine
• Indirect acting
  • Reversible Cholinesterase Inhibitors
    • Donepezil
      Edrophonium
      Neostigmine
      Physostigmine
      Pyridostigmine
      Tacrine
  • Irreversible Cholinesterase Inhibitors
    • Echothiophate
      Isoflurophate
      Malathion
  • Drugs that promote ACh release
    • Cisapride
      Metoclopramide
  • Drugs that work by other mechanisms
    • Sildenafil

Sources

Brenner, G. M. (2000). Pharmacology. Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders Company. ISBN 0-7216-7757-6