.Pharmacolibrary.Drugs.V_Various.V04C_OtherDiagnosticAgents.V04CX03_Methacholine.Methacholine .Pharmacolibrary.Drugs.V_Various.V04C_OtherDiagnosticAgents.V04CX03_Methacholine.Methacholine| name: | Methacholine |
| ATC code: | V04CX03 | route: | inhalation |
| n-compartments | 1 |
Methacholine is a synthetic choline ester that acts as a non-selective muscarinic receptor agonist. It is primarily used in the diagnosis of bronchial hyperreactivity (asthma) in the form of a methacholine challenge test. Methacholine is not used as a therapeutic drug; its approved use is in diagnostic procedures.
No direct human pharmacokinetic data published; estimates based on available limited animal and in vitro data. Methacholine exhibits rapid metabolism by cholinesterases and an extremely short plasma half-life. Typically administered via inhalation during bronchoprovocation challenge tests.
Short, PM, et al., & Lipworth, BJ (2015). Usefulness of impulse oscillometry for the assessment of airway hyperresponsiveness in mild-to-moderate adult asthma. Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology 115(1) 17–20. DOI:10.1016/j.anai.2015.04.022 PUBMED:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26123421