Cholinergic agents (drugs)

Cholinergics can effect a Parasympathetic-like response due to stimulation of muscarinic receptors.
The "slow" down term is really a reference to an overall increase in parasympatheic tone vs. a "speed" up of sympathetic stimulation.
A good place to start in understanding the Autonomic nervous system would be your physiology text, focusing hard on what Acetylcholine and Norepinephrine do in this system. This will help you understand the why's of the SLUDGE mnemonic a little better.

I think instructors sometimes use oversimplified terms to describe the physiology behind our job. I never agreed with the whole speed up or slow down paradigm of explaining the nervous system.

For example, if I give you something that binds to a nicotinic parasympathetic receptor and mimics the action of acetylcholine, am I not stimulating that receptor?

Look at it this way. The body essentially has two types of cholinergic receptors. Or receptors effected by acetylcholine. So, a cholinergic response is a response caused by the action of acetylcholine on those receptors and anticholinergic is a response to blocking the action of acetylcholine. For example, nerve agents and organophosphates prevent the action of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase. Thus, allowing acetylcholine to remain attached and continue stimulating the cholinergic receptors.

**On a side note: I am talking about the post ganglionic action of acetylcholine, as pre-ganglionic receptors will all be acetylcholine receptors.

The two receptors you will most likely talk about are nicotinic and muscarinic.

Muscarinic receptors are associated with the salivation, lacrimation, vasodilation, etc. we often associate with a cholinergic response.

Nicotinic receptors are associated with the neuromuscular junction and muscle contraction.

Also remember, some substances are more specific to certain receptors.

Here's another one for you:

DUMBELS: Diarrhea, Urination, Miosis, Bronchospasm, Emesis, Lacrimation, Salivation