Recently, the interest in the cholinergic system in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia has increased. For many years the disorders in the function of this system, mainly as adverse effects induced by antipsychotics, have been observed. Perception of acetylcholine system evolves, which results from the assumption that the impact on the transmission through it may not only induce or eliminate the mentioned adverse effects but also directly modify symptomatology of schizophrenia. This article is aimed at a survey of the current literature on new options of the modulation of the cholinergic system functions. Presently the studies are focussed on searching for selective agonists and allosteric modulators of muscarinic receptors which can reduce the risk of side effects of the traditional antipsychotic therapy and simultaneously have their own therapeutic antipsychotic potential. The use of less selective substances does not yield such benefits. Psychopharmacologists’ interests cover also the modulators of nicotinic receptors α4β2 and α7, which favourably affect, among others, the cognitive functioning in patients with schizophrenia, as has been confirmed by many independent studies. Admittedly, in most of the patients, despite the treatment, adverse symptoms, cognitive deficits and often also residual positive symptoms persist. From the clinical point of view, significant are also adverse effects which often complicate the treatment, confine therapeutic abilities, and hamper the patient’s cooperation in pharmacotherapy. The studies on new, more selective cholinergic substances give some hope for improvements in schizophrenia therapy through increased efficacy and elimination of adverse symptoms.

cholinergic system, allosteric modulators, xanomeline, acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors, schizophrenia