![cover image](https://wikiwandv2-19431.kxcdn.com/_next/image?url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Acetylcholinesterase-1EA5.png/640px-Acetylcholinesterase-1EA5.png&w=640&q=50)
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitor
Drugs that inhibit acetylcholinesterase / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) also often called cholinesterase inhibitors,[1] inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase from breaking down the neurotransmitter acetylcholine into choline and acetate,[2] thereby increasing both the level and duration of action of acetylcholine in the central nervous system, autonomic ganglia and neuromuscular junctions, which are rich in acetylcholine receptors.[2] Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are one of two types of cholinesterase inhibitors; the other being butyryl-cholinesterase inhibitors.[2] Acetylcholinesterase is the primary member of the cholinesterase enzyme family.[3]
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Acetylcholine.svg/220px-Acetylcholine.svg.png)
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/Acetylcholinesterase-1EA5.png/320px-Acetylcholinesterase-1EA5.png)
![Thumb image](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Acetylcholinesterase_Inhibitors.svg/320px-Acetylcholinesterase_Inhibitors.svg.png)
Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors are classified as reversible, irreversible, or quasi-irreversible (also called pseudo-irreversible).[4][5]