NMIC Bulletin Vol.30 No. 3 Use of medicines with anticholinergic activity
Share
Print
20 May, 2024
Many medicines that are commonly used in clinical practice are associated with anticholinergic activity
The use of medicines with high anticholinergic activity is associated with an increased risk of adverse clinical outcomes for patients, especially older patients
Anticholinergic scales can be used to identify medicines with anticholinergic activity and to assess the anticholinergic burden for an individual patient
The anticholinergic activity of a medicines should be considered when initiating medicines in older people, and the total anticholinergic burden assessed at medication review or if there are concerns regarding cognitive function