What can occur at high doses of Atropine?

Prepare for the New South Wales Ambulance Pharmacology Exam with comprehensive quizzes featuring flashcards and multiple choice questions. Master the material with detailed hints and explanations to boost your confidence and ensure success.

At high doses of Atropine, the central nervous system can be significantly affected, leading to the risk of seizures. Atropine, an anticholinergic drug, primarily works by blocking the action of acetylcholine on muscarinic receptors, resulting in various physiological responses. While its primary use is for treating bradycardia and for other medical purposes, excessive dosages can lead to CNS excitability, manifesting as restlessness, confusion, hallucinations, and can culminate in seizures.

The other options listed are not typically associated with high doses of Atropine. Diarrhea is more related to stimulation of the gastrointestinal tract and is not a common effect of Atropine, which actually reduces secretions and motility. Hypoglycemia is not a direct effect of Atropine; it's more relevant to other medications that directly influence insulin secretion. Depression is also not a recognized consequence of Atropine overdose, as the drug does not have the properties that would lead to a depressive state. Therefore, the connection between high doses of Atropine and the likelihood of seizures is well-established in pharmacological literature.

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