Anticholinergic drugs compared

Compare all 14 Anticholinergic drugs side by side, used for conditions such as bronchial spasm, bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema. They share one FDA-defined mechanism but differ in approved uses, prescription status, brand-vs-generic options, price, and FDA recall-safety record — which our independent rating scores. The highest-rated is atrovent hfa.

5 of 14 drugs in this class carry a pharmaranks safety score, ranging 68–72 out of 100 — computed from FDA recall records, not from reviews.

Rated against independent sources·Last updated June 7, 2026·How we rate

Top-rated anticholinergic: 1. Atrovent Hfa · 2. Dicyclomine Hydrochloride · 3. Spiriva Respimat

Anticholinergic drugs compared side by side, with pharmaranks' FDA recall-safety rating
Drug	Generic	Form	Status	Used for	Safety ratingFDA recall-based	Pharmacy pays
Atrovent Hfa	Ipratropium Bromide	Spray/Inhaler	Prescription	Bronchial Spasm, Bronchitis	72/100	$1
Dicyclomine Hydrochloride	—	Capsule	Prescription	Irritable Bowel Syndrome	72/100	$2
Spiriva Respimat	Tiotropium Bromide	Spray/Inhaler	Prescription	Pulmonary Emphysema, Bronchitis, Chronic	72/100	$354
Tudorza Pressair	Aclidinium Bromide	Powder	Prescription	Bronchial Spasm, Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive	72/100	—
Spiriva	Tiotropium Bromide	Capsule	Prescription	Pulmonary Emphysema, Bronchitis, Chronic	68/100	$354
Atropine Sulfate	—	Injectable	Prescription	Bradycardia, Heart Arrest	Not yet rated	$7
Benztropine Mesylate	—	Injectable	Prescription	Abnormalities, Drug-Induced, Parkinson Disease	Not yet rated	—
Cuvposa	Glycopyrrolate	Liquid	Prescription	Hyperhidrosis, Abnormalities, Drug-Induced	Not yet rated	$0
Glycopyrrolate	—	Injectable	Prescription	Hyperhidrosis, Abnormalities, Drug-Induced	Not yet rated	$0
Glyrx-Pf	Glycopyrrolate	Injectable	Prescription	Hyperhidrosis, Abnormalities, Drug-Induced	Not yet rated	$0
Isopto Atropine	Atropine Sulfate	Solution	Prescription	Bradycardia, Heart Arrest	Not yet rated	$7
Robinul	Glycopyrrolate	Tablet	Prescription	Hyperhidrosis, Abnormalities, Drug-Induced	Not yet rated	$0

The safety rating column is unique to pharmaranks — an independent 0–100 score from FDA regulatory recall data. Higher is safer. Not medical advice.

Best anticholinergic by condition

for bronchial spasm for pulmonary emphysema for vasomotor rhinitis

Full ranking · 14 drugs

Frequently asked questions

What is the Anticholinergic drug class?

Anticholinergic is an FDA Established Pharmacologic Class (EPC) — a group of drugs that share a mechanism of action. pharmaranks lists 14 Anticholinergic products, each independently rated.

Are all Anticholinergic drugs the same?

No. Anticholinergic drugs share the same core mechanism — that is why they sit in one FDA class — but they differ in their approved uses, available forms, whether they are prescription or over-the-counter, brand-vs-generic options and price, and their FDA recall-safety record.

What conditions do Anticholinergic drugs treat?

Per NIH RxClass drug-classification data, Anticholinergic drugs are used for conditions including bronchial spasm, bronchitis, pulmonary emphysema, rhinitis, allergic, perennial, rhinitis, vasomotor, irritable bowel syndrome.

Which Anticholinergic drug is best-rated?

By our independent rating, atrovent hfa currently ranks highest among Anticholinergic drugs. Ratings are based on FDA regulatory (recall-safety) data — always consult a professional.

Sources: the Anticholinergic class definition and its member drugs come from the U.S. NLM RxClass (Established Pharmacologic Class); how the class works is summarized from Muscarinic Antagonists - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. Ratings are pharmaranks’ independent FDA recall-safety analysis.