(fye zoe STIG meen)
Reversal of central nervous system anticholinergic syndrome
Note: Physostigmine should only be used to reverse toxic, life-threatening delirium caused by pure anticholinergic agents (ie, atropine, diphenhydramine, dimenhydrinate, Atropa belladonna [deadly nightshade], or jimson weed [Datura spp]). Consultation with a clinical toxicologist or poison control center is recommended in patients who require physostigmine administration.
Gastrointestinal or genitourinary obstruction; asthma; gangrene; diabetes; cardiovascular disease; any vagotonic state; coadministration of choline esters and depolarizing neuromuscular-blocking agents (eg, succinylcholine)
Reversal of toxic anticholinergic effects: Note: When administering by IV injection, administer no faster than 1 mg/minute to prevent bradycardia, respiratory distress, and seizures from too rapid administration.
IM, IV: Initial: 0.5-2 mg; may repeat every 10-30 minutes until response occurs. Subsequent doses may be required to manage life-threatening anticholinergic effects (Krenzelok, 2010).
Refer to adult dosing.
Reversal of toxic anticholinergic effects: Note: Reserve for life-threatening situations only. When administering by IV injection, administer no faster than 0.5 mg/minute to prevent bradycardia, respiratory distress, and seizures from too rapid administration.
Infants, Children, and Adolescents: IM, IV: Initial: 0.02 mg/kg; may repeat every 5-10 minutes until response occurs (maximum total dose: 2 mg)
No dosage adjustment provided in manufacturer 's labeling.
No dosage adjustment provided in manufacturer 's labeling.
Hazardous agent; use appropriate precautions for handling and disposal (EPA, P-listed).
IV: Infuse no faster than 1 mg/minute in adults or 0.5 mg/minute in children. Too rapid administration can cause bradycardia, respiratory distress, and seizures. May also be administered IM (according to the manufacturer 's labeling).
Hazardous agent; use appropriate precautions for handling and disposal (EPA, P-listed).
Store at 20 � �C to 25 � �C (68 � �F to 77 � �F).
Excipient information presented when available (limited, particularly for generics); consult specific product labeling.
Solution, Injection, as salicylate:
Generic: 1 mg/mL (2 mL)
Anticholinergic Agents: Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors may diminish the therapeutic effect of Anticholinergic Agents. Anticholinergic Agents may diminish the therapeutic effect of Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors. Monitor therapy
Benoxinate: Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors may enhance the therapeutic effect of Benoxinate. Specifically, the effects of benoxinate may be prolonged. Monitor therapy
Beta-Blockers: Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors may enhance the bradycardic effect of Beta-Blockers. Exceptions: Levobunolol; Metipranolol. Monitor therapy
Cholinergic Agonists: Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors may enhance the adverse/toxic effect of Cholinergic Agonists. Monitor therapy
Corticosteroids (Systemic): May enhance the adverse/toxic effect of Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors. Increased muscular weakness may occur. Monitor therapy
Dipyridamole: May diminish the therapeutic effect of Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors. Monitor therapy
Neuromuscular-Blocking Agents (Nondepolarizing): Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors may diminish the neuromuscular-blocking effect of Neuromuscular-Blocking Agents (Nondepolarizing). Monitor therapy
Succinylcholine: Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors may increase the serum concentration of Succinylcholine. Management: Consider alternatives to this combination due to a risk of prolonged neuromuscular blockade. Consider therapy modification
ECG, vital signs; consult individual institutional policies and procedures
Increased aminotransferase [ALT/AST] (S), increased amylase (S)
Frequency not defined.
Cardiovascular: Asystole, bradycardia, palpitation
Central nervous system: Hallucinations, nervousness, restlessness, seizure
Gastrointestinal: Defecation, diarrhea, nausea, salivation, stomach pain, vomiting
Genitourinary: Urinary frequency
Neuromuscular & skeletal: Twitching
Ocular: Lacrimation, miosis
Respiratory: Bronchospasm, dyspnea, pulmonary edema, respiratory distress, respiratory paralysis
Miscellaneous: Diaphoresis, hypersensitivity
Concerns related to adverse effects:
- Arrhythmias: Patient must have a normal QRS interval, as measured by ECG, in order to receive; use caution in poisoning with agents known to prolong intraventricular conduction (Howland, 2011).
- Cholinergic effects: Discontinue if symptoms of excessive cholinergic activity occur (eg, salivation, urinary incontinence, defecation, vomiting); overdosage may result in cholinergic crisis, which must be distinguished from myasthenic crisis. If excessive diaphoresis or nausea occurs, reduce subsequent doses.
- Hypersensitivity/overdose reactions: Due to the possibility of hypersensitivity or overdose/cholinergic crisis, atropine should be readily available.
Dosage form specific issues:
- Benzyl alcohol and derivatives: Some dosage forms may contain benzyl alcohol; large amounts of benzyl alcohol ( ≥99 mg/kg/day) have been associated with a potentially fatal toxicity ( "gasping syndrome " �) in neonates; the "gasping syndrome " � consists of metabolic acidosis, respiratory distress, gasping respirations, CNS dysfunction (including convulsions, intracranial hemorrhage), hypotension, and cardiovascular collapse (AAP [Inactive" 1997]; CDC, 1982); some data suggests that benzoate displaces bilirubin from protein binding sites (Ahlfors, 2001); avoid or use dosage forms containing benzyl alcohol with caution in neonates. See manufacturer 's labeling.
- Sodium metabisulfite: Products may contain sodium metabisulfite which may cause allergic reactions in some individuals.
Special handling:
- Hazardous agent: Use appropriate precautions for handling and disposal (EPA, P-listed).
Other warnings/precautions:
- IV administration: Administer no faster than 1 mg/minute in adults or 0.5 mg/minute in children to prevent bradycardia, respiratory distress, and seizures from too rapid administration. Although the use of continuous infusions of physostigmine have been described in the literature (Eyer, 2008; Hail, 2013), experts do not recommend the routine use of continuous infusions. It is preferable to titrate physostigmine to patient needs through the use of intermittent administration; intermittent administration will minimize the risk of cholinergic toxicity, which can be associated with considerable morbidity.
- Tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) poisoning: Asystole and seizures have been reported when physostigmine was administered to TCA poisoned patients. Physostigmine is not recommended in patients with known or suspected TCA intoxication.
In general, medications used as antidotes should take into consideration the health and prognosis of the mother; antidotes should be administered to pregnant women if there is a clear indication for use and should not be withheld because of fears of teratogenicity (Bailey, 2003).
Physostigmine is a carbamate which inhibits the enzyme acetylcholinesterase and prolongs the central and peripheral effects of acetylcholine
IM: Readily absorbed
Widely distributed throughout the body; crosses blood-brain barrier readily and reverses both central and peripheral anticholinergic effects
Via hydrolysis by cholinesterases
Within 3 to 8 minutes
45 to 60 minutes
1 to 2 hours
- Discuss specific use of drug and side effects with patient as it relates to treatment. (HCAHPS: During this hospital stay, were you given any medicine that you had not taken before? Before giving you any new medicine, how often did hospital staff tell you what the medicine was for? How often did hospital staff describe possible side effects in a way you could understand?)
- Have patient report immediately to prescriber severe nausea, severe vomiting, severe diarrhea, polyuria, seizures, increased saliva, sweating a lot, or bradycardia (HCAHPS).
- Educate patient about signs of a significant reaction (eg, wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat). Note: This is not a comprehensive list of all side effects. Patient should consult prescriber for additional questions.
Intended Use and Disclaimer: Should not be printed and given to patients. This information is intended to serve as a concise initial reference for health care professionals to use when discussing medications with a patient. You must ultimately rely on your own discretion, experience, and judgment in diagnosing, treating, and advising patients.