Final answer:
To treat a cholinergic crisis from overmedication, atropine is used to block muscarinic receptors, while pralidoxime chloride is used to reactivate acetylcholinesterase.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a patient is in a cholinergic crisis due to overmedication, the standard drug of choice is atropine. Atropine is an anticholinergic that works by blocking muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, thereby inhibiting the effects of excess acetylcholine. It helps to manage symptoms, such as excess salivation and bronchial secretions. In more severe cases, or when exposure to nerve agents is suspected, pralidoxime chloride (2-PAMCI) is used along with atropine. Pralidoxime chloride acts differently by reactivating acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down acetylcholine. This combined approach ensures the mitigation of muscarinic and nicotinic effects caused by a cholinergic crisis.