Glycopyrronium bromide
Glycopyrronium bromide is a medication of the muscarinic anticholinergic group. It does not cross the blood–brain barrier and consequently has few to no central effects. It is given by mouth, via intravenous injection, on the skin, and via inhalation. It is a synthetic quaternary ammonium compound. The cation, which is the active moiety, is called glycopyrronium or glycopyrrolate.
The most common side effects include irritability, flushing, nasal congestion, reduced secretions in the airways, dry mouth, constipation, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, and urinary retention.
In September 2012, glycopyrronium was approved for medical use in the European Union. In June 2018, glycopyrronium was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat excessive underarm sweating, becoming the first drug developed specifically to reduce excessive sweating. It is on the WHO Model [List of Essential Medicines|World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines].
Medical uses
Glycopyrronium was first used in 1961 to treat peptic ulcers. Since 1975, intravenous glycopyrronium has been used before surgery to reduce salivary, tracheobronchial, and pharyngeal secretions. It is also used in conjunction with neostigmine, a neuromuscular blocking reversal agent, to prevent neostigmine's muscarinic effects such as bradycardia. It can be administered to raise the heart rate in reflex bradycardia as a result of a vasovagal reaction, which often will also increase the blood pressure.It is also used to reduce excessive saliva, and to treat Ménière's disease.
It has been used topically and orally to treat hyperhidrosis, in particular, gustatory hyperhidrosis and generalized hyperhidrosis.
When inhaled, it is used to treat chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Doses for inhalation are much lower than oral ones, so that swallowing a dose will not have an effect.