Prevention of neostigmine-induced colonic activity. A comparison of atropine and glycopyrronium.

Colonic intraluminal pressure was recorded in eight patients receiving either atropine 1.2 mg (n = 4) or glycopyrronium 0.6 mg (n = 4) intravenously in a randomised, double-blind fashion and followed after 5 minutes by neostigmine 2.5 mg. Estimations of total colonic activity were made from the area under the recording of intraluminal pressure. There were no significant differences in mean intraluminal pressures or total colonic activity between the two groups. It is concluded that glycopyrronium offers no advantage over atropine with respect to protection of the bowel against the effects of neostigmine.