A patient with acute pancreatitis has an order for an anticholinergic medication. This medication is given to which purpose?

• A. To depress the central nervous system and increase the pain threshold
• B. To decrease metabolism
• C. To relieve nausea and vomiting
• D. To reduce gastric and pancreatic secretions

Answer: (D)

Anticholinergic drugs work by blocking acetylcholine at muscarinic receptors, which reduces secretions from exocrine glands and dampens GI motility. In acute pancreatitis, decreasing pancreatic and gastric secretions lowers the pancreatic stimulation that drives enzyme release and inflammation. This helps lessen autodigestion of the pancreas and reduces pain. So the main purpose of giving this medication in this setting is to reduce gastric and pancreatic secretions. While there can be some antiemetic effects in some cases, that isn’t the primary reason for its use here, and it isn’t about depressing the central nervous system or metabolism.