Intravenous versus intramuscular atropine in ECT.

Twelve patients receiving ECT consented to random assignment to either intravenous or intramuscular administration of atropine for a total of 48 ECTs. There were no statistically significant differences between routes of administration in heart rate, blood pressures, or sialorrhea, but intravenous administration eliminated one injection per treatment and the development of dry mouth and tachycardia between the intramuscular injection and ECT. The authors recommend that atropine for ECT be administered intravenously.