Anticholinergic Syndrome: Presentations, Etiological Agents, Differential Diagnosis, And Treatment

Considering the more than 600 medications that have anticholinergic properties, the physiological variables that exist in older patients, and the exacerbation that can occur from various diseases and medications, the diagnosis of anticholinergic toxicity can often be overlooked, particularly if its onset is subtle and gradual. The severity of anticholingeric side effects, if not those of blatant toxicity, is extremely variable. Minor forms can result in apresentation of dry mouth and minor cognitive confusion, while severe forms may present with fever, confusion, coma, and death. When anticholinergic toxicity states are recognized, they can be effectively treated by stopping the offending agents, administering and titrating physostigmine, treating delirium with medications such as risperidone or haloperidol, and providing supportive care and monitoring