Atropine is a toxic alkaloid found in nightshade and has medical uses, including dilating pupils, relaxing muscles, and reducing secretions. It can also be used to treat organophosphate poisoning and stimulate the heart. However, it can be dangerous and must be used under controlled circumstances due to potential abuse. Atropine is named after Atropos, one of the Fates in Greek mythology.
Atropine is a toxic alkaloid found in nightshade and some other members of the nightshade family. This crystalline bitter compound has a number of medical uses when employed in a controlled environment, and people have also used it recreationally, although this practice is not recommended. Pharmaceutical grade atropine is manufactured in very controlled environments to ensure dosing is accurate and safe.
This drug depresses the action of the vagus nerve, a nerve that controls a number of functions in the trunk, including heart rate. It also interferes with the action of acetylcholine, causing the muscles of the body to relax. Atropine typically dilates the pupils and increases the heart rate. It can also cause dizziness, nausea, and a variety of neurological symptoms because it crosses the blood-brain barrier. In severe overdose, atropine can lead to death.
The uses of atropine take advantage of its effects on the body, turning them into a good use. For example, it can be given to dilate the pupils, or as an antispasmodic drug, as it forces the muscles to relax. Because it reduces secretions in the respiratory tract, atropine is also used in anesthesiology to break down these secretions, ensuring that the patient does not experience a buildup of fluid on the lungs. Atropine can also be used to treat organophosphate poisoning and to stimulate the heart in people with a slow heart rate.
Because atropine can be very dangerous, it must be used under controlled circumstances. Physicians must calculate and measure dosage carefully to ensure atropine is used appropriately, and access to this drug is limited in many regions, due to concerns about potential abuse. People who use atropine recreationally generally do so in an attempt to experience neurological symptoms and may do so by consuming members of the nightshade family, which may be the last thing they do, as the dosage of atropine in a single plant is impossible to calculate.
The name of this chemical refers to Atropos, one of the Fates in Greek mythology. According to legend, Atropos decided how people would die. People have long been aware of the dangers of eating members of the nightshade family due to atropine, which is why potatoes and tomatoes were viewed with such deep suspicion when they were introduced to Europe, as these plants belong to this family. Eggplants, peppers, and tobacco are also in the nightshade family, demonstrating the diversity found among Solanaceae, as members of this family are formally known.
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