The Effect of Some Oral Anticholinergics on Gastric Emptying, pH and Osmolarity in Man

Abstract

The effect of five orally administered anticholinergic drugs on the gastric emptying rate, the pH and the osmolarity of the gastric contents was studied with double-blind technique. The emptying rate was estimated by external counting of 131I-HSA incorporated in a standard liquid test meal. Atropine, 1-hyoscyamine, and propantheline decreased the gastric emptying rate and reduced the decrease of the pH and the osmolarity induced by the test meal. Methyl scopolamine produced inconsistent effects on the parameters. Butyl scopolamine in a high dose caused some retardation of the emptying but had no effect on pH or osmolarity.