Anticholinergics are drugs that inhibit the pharmacological response of acetylcholine (Ach) by competitively binding to and blocking muscarinic receptors. Their general structure consists of two carbocyclic or heterocyclic rings (R1 and R2) connected by a chain with an ester or ether group (X) and a basic nitrogen substituent. The R3 group can be hydrogen, hydroxyl, or hydroxymethyl. Maximum potency is seen with 2 carbon units between the ring and nitrogen. Older anticholinergics like atropine and scopolamine are non-selective for muscarinic receptor subtypes, while newer drugs show selectivity. Anticholinergics are used to treat