Abstract
Summary
Ability of several antispasmodic and ganglionic blocking substances to produce immediate death following maximal electro-shock convulsions in mice has been demonstrated. With most agents studied (atropine, atropine methyl nitrate, benactyzine, mepiperphenidol, methantheline, propantheline, scopolamine, scopolamine methiodide, mecamylamine, chlorisondamine, pentolinium and hexamethonium), the post seizure lethal effect was produced in doses approximating that required to produce a peripheral anticholinergic effect in the same species (pupil dilatation). Neither atropine nor mecamylamine altered the electroconvulsive threshold.
Respiratory failure appeared to be the cause of drug-induced post seizure deaths, but the mechanism of action was not revealed.
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