In cases of surgery where anesthesia should be given to the patient, atropine is given beforehand to reduce bodily secretions such as phlegm and saliva. Doing so quickens the body’s ability to absorb the anesthesia. Reduction of secretions also makes the anesthesia more effective, thus repeated anesthetic administrations can be avoided. Generally, the drug slows down bodily activities connected to the nervous system, hence inhibiting the production of secretions.
Atropine is also used in eye examinations as a topical medicine. It can induce cyclopegia, or a temporary paralysis of the eye’s muscles responsible for focusing on an object. This process can help give some relief to a patient suffering from iridocyclitis or an inflamed uvea, and can also treat glaucoma. The medication can also be used to bring about prolonged mydriasis, or the action of dilating the eye’s pupil. Use of atropine as an ophthalmic medication should be approached with caution, as the effect can last up to two weeks.
Physicians can also use atropine for heart-related illnesses and emergencies. The drug is usually injected to provoke cardiac activity during heart attacks and in cases of asystole or a “flatline.” Bradycardia, or the condition of having a heart rate lower than 50 beats per minute, can also be treated with the medication. Atropine works by preventing the vagus nerve from slowing down the heart rate. The American Heart Association has discontinued its recommendation for using the drug for aystole.
The drug can also be used to counteract chemical poisoning. Atropine, per se, is not an antitoxin, but by blocking some of the nervous system’s receptors from receiving any “messages” of pain, it alleviates the symptoms caused by the poisoning. Symptoms of DUMBBELSS, which include diarrhea, urination, and sweating, can be reduced by injecting the drug. Many soldiers who are assigned to places with chemical warfare usually bring syringes containing atropine.
In less urgent situations, the drug can also be taken as an cure for irritable bowel syndrome and diarrhea. Combined with other chemicals, small doses of atropine can be used as tranquilizers for animals. The drug may induce hallucinations, which is why some people take the chemical for recreational and illegal uses. Irresponsible use of the drug, however, can lead to negative effects, such as confusion and delirium, poisoning and even coma. When the latter effects are experienced, there is more possibility that death will follow.