Hallucinatory effect in man of acetylcholine inhibitors

Abstract

Synthetic atrophies, both marketed and unmarketed, are more active hallucinogens than either atropine or scopolamine. Some of these produce hallucinatory effects lasting 24-48 hr. The recommended daily dosage of many of these antitremor drugs produces hallucinations in single trials in healthy subjects. The parkinsonian patient may possibly be more resistant to the hallucinatory effect than is the healthy subject, and the recommended dosage schedules would tend to produce tolerance to the hallucinatory effect. The newer synthetic antitremor drugs have fewer peripheral side actions, but the central side actions, such as hallucinations, are exaggerated and should be anticipated.