Question

Leland and his friends are in the mountains for the weekend, and collect greens, berries, and mushrooms for their final meal. Leland makes and taste tests the mushroom dish and wounds up violently ill with mushroom poisoning. At the hospital, he is treated with atropine. What side effects might Leland experience from the atropine?

Answer 1

Leland may experience side effects from atropine treatment such as dilated pupils, restlessness, fast heart rate, dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention, and hallucinations.

Step-by-step explanation:

After being treated with atropine for mushroom poisoning, Leland might experience side effects that are typical of anticholinergic drugs, since atropine is a muscarinic antagonist. These side effects can include dilated pupils, restlessness, fast heart rate (tachycardia), dry mouth, blurred vision, urinary retention, and potentially hallucinations. The medicinal use of atropine is to inhibit the parasympathetic effects of muscarinic receptors, which helps to counter the effects of the mushroom toxins but can also lead to symptoms of anticholinergic syndrome, where the body exhibits signs of decreased parasympathetic activity. It's important for patients and healthcare providers to monitor for these side effects, as they can be uncomfortable and in some cases, require further treatment.