These are the drugs which produce actions same as acetylcholine, either by directly acting with cholinergic receptors or by increasing availability of Ach at the sites. They are also called as cholinomimetics or parasympathomimetics.
There are two types of Cholinergic drugs they are cholinergic agonists and anticholinesterases.
1. CHOLINERGIC AGONISTS
a) Choline esters:
Acetylcholine
Methacholine
Carbachol
Bethanechol
b) Alkaloids:
Muscarine
Pilocarpine
Arecoline
2. ANTICHOLINESTERASES
a) Reversible
Carbamates:
Physostigmine (Eserine)
Neostigmine
Pyridostigmine
Rivastigmine
Edrophonium
Donepezil
Galantamine
Acridine:
Tacrine
b) Irreversible
Carbamates:
Carbaryl
Propoxur
Organophosphates:
Dyflos (DFP)
Echothiophate
Malathione
Diazinon
Tabun
Sarin
Soman
Isofluorophate
CHOLINERGIC DRUGS