EFFECTS OF ATROPINE SULFATE, METHYLATROPINE NITRATE (METROPINE) AND HOMATROPINE HYDROBROMIDE ON ADULT HUMAN EYES

Abstract

CERTAIN details of the clinical actions of several mydriatics of the belladonna group are given in tables in the textbooks of pharmacology of Sollmann¹and Goodman and Gilman,²but the relative speeds and durations of the actions of the various drugs are not well defined because (a) the solutions used varied in strength from 0.5 to 10 per cent and (b) doses are not given. It appeared desirable, therefore, to gather data permitting a more exact comparison of the actions of some of these drugs. Atropine seemed the logical choice as the standard with which homatropine and methylatropine nitrate (Metropine) should be compared. Of the many authors who have described the mydriatic and cycloplegic effects of atropine, homatropine and methylatropine nitrate, only a few have given data pertinent to the present investigations. Consideration of dosage being omitted for the moment, the time for maximal effect and the approximate