Which symptom is NOT characteristic of anticholinergic syndrome?

Prepare for the Adult–Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Certification (AGACNP) Test. Practice with comprehensive quizzes, gain confidence with detailed explanations, and excel in your exam!

Anticholinergic syndrome is a set of symptoms that arises from the inhibition of acetylcholine at muscarinic receptors due to anticholinergic medications or substances. Key features of anticholinergic syndrome include dry mouth, urinary retention, constipation, blurred vision (can't see), tachycardia (increased heart rate), and confusion.

Diarrhea is not characteristic of anticholinergic syndrome; rather, patients typically experience constipation due to decreased gastrointestinal motility, which is a direct effect of anticholinergic activity. The correct answer reflects the understanding that while symptoms like increased heart rate and urinary retention align with the syndrome's profile, diarrhea does not and actually counters the expected effects of anticholinergic exposure.

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