What commonly results from excessive dosing of cholinergic agents?

Excessive dosing of cholinergic agents leads to a cholinergic crisis, which is characterized by an overstimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system due to an accumulation of acetylcholine. This condition often manifests with symptoms such as excessive salivation, lacrimation, urination, diarrhea, gastrointestinal distress, muscle twitching, and even respiratory distress due to bronchoconstriction and increased bronchial secretions. Cholinergic crisis can occur with any pharmacological agent that enhances cholinergic activity, including medications used for conditions like myasthenia gravis, or in cases of poisoning by organophosphates, which inhibit acetylcholinesterase, resulting in elevated acetylcholine levels.

Understanding this mechanism is essential for recognizing the symptoms associated with excessive cholinergic activity and implementing the appropriate therapeutic interventions to manage the crisis effectively.