The key difference between cholinergic and anticholinergic is that cholinergic agents mimic the action of acetylcholine whereas anticholinergic agents block the action of acetylcholine.
Acetylcholine is an organic compound. It functions as a neurotransmitter in the brain and body of many animals and humans. It is important in sending chemical messages between cells, neurons and among other cells such as muscle cells and gland cells. Both cholinergic and anticholinergic are related to acetylcholine. These refer to chemical agents that can regulate the neurochemical message transfer between neurons and cells.