Central and peripheral anticholinergic potency of some drugs antagonistic to anticholinesterase poisoning

Abstract
The central and peripheral anticholinergic potency of nine drugs together with their therapeutic effectiveness in treating sarin poisoning was measured and compared with atropine. There was a direct relationship between the anticholinergic potencies of these drugs as measured by tests indicative of activity in the central nervous system and their therapeutic effectiveness in treating sarin poisoning. One exception to this was shown by the drug caramiphen, which showed significantly higher therapeutic protection than the drug atropine at equimolar dosages, yet was less active as a peripheral or central anticholinergic drug. High levels of therapeutic protection were directly related to high levels of central anticholinergic potency.