Atropine is an anticholinergic agent that is used as an antidote for organophosphate poisoning, primarily to counteract symptoms related to excessive acetylcholine stimulation due to the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase.
Among the symptoms listed:
A. Salivation - Atropine is effective in reducing salivation. B. Skeletal muscle fasciculations - Atropine does not reverse fasciculations directly, as they are a result of continuous stimulation of the neuromuscular junction. C. Bronchoconstriction - Atropine is effective in relieving bronchoconstriction. D. Diarrhea - Atropine decreases gastrointestinal motility, thus alleviating diarrhea. E. Miosis - Atropine dilates the pupils; it is effective against miosis by blocking the action of acetylcholine at the muscarinic receptors.
The symptom against which atropine is least effective is:
B. Skeletal muscle fasciculations.
These fasciculations are primarily caused by continuous stimulation of nicotinic receptors at the neuromuscular junction, and atropine does not directly affect these receptors.
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