Anticholinergic medicines are a group of medicines used to relieve cramps, reduce uncontrollable movements, prevent bladder spasms, relax the lung airways, and dry the nose and chest. Anticholinergics are used to treat stomach cramps, Parkinson's disease, colds, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), urinary incontinence, and muscle spasms from cerebral palsy.

Anticholinergics relax and enlarge (dilate) the airways in the lungs, making breathing easier (bronchodilators). They may protect the airways from spasms that can suddenly cause the airway to become narrower (bronchospasm). They also may reduce the amount of mucus produced by the airways.