(pra li DOKS eem)
Treatment of muscle weakness and/or respiratory depression secondary to poisoning due to organophosphate anticholinesterase pesticides and chemicals (eg, nerve agents); control of overdose of anticholinesterase medications used to treat myasthenia gravis (ambenonium, neostigmine, pyridostigmine)
There are no absolute contraindications listed within the manufacturer 's labeling. Note: According to the manufacturer, relative contraindications include hypersensitivity to pralidoxime or any component of the formulation and other situations where the risk of administration clearly outweighs possible benefit.
Anticholinesterase overdose (eg, neostigmine, pyridostigmine): IV: 1000-2000 mg; followed by increments of 250 mg every 5 minutes as needed
Organophosphate poisoning:Note: Use in conjunction with atropine; a response to atropine should be established before pralidoxime is administered. IM or SubQ administration should be considered when IV administration is not feasible:
IV: Loading dose: 1000-2000 mg; Maintenance: Repeat bolus of 1000-2000 mg after 1 hour and repeated every 10-12 hours thereafter, as needed. Alternatively, administer a loading dose of 30 mg/kg followed by a maintenance infusion of 8 mg/kg/hour (off-label dose; Roberts, 2007).
IM:
Mild symptoms: 600 mg; repeat as needed for persistent mild symptoms every 15 minutes to a maximum total dose of 1800 mg; may administer doses in rapid succession if severe symptoms develop
Severe symptoms: 600 mg; repeat twice in rapid succession to deliver a total dose of 1800 mg
Persistent symptoms: May repeat the entire series (1800 mg) beginning ~1 hour after administration of the last injection
Refer to adult dosing.
Organophosphate poisoning:Note: Use in conjunction with atropine; a response to atropine should be established before pralidoxime is administered. IM or SubQ administration should be considered when IV administration is not feasible:
IV:
Children and Adolescents ≤16 years: Loading dose: 20-50 mg/kg (maximum: 2000 mg/dose); Maintenance infusion: 10-20 mg/kg/hour; alternatively, a repeat bolus of 20-50 mg/kg (maximum: 2000 mg/dose) may be administered after 1 hour and repeated every 10-12 hours thereafter, as needed
Adolescents >16 years: Refer to adult dosing.
IM:
Children <40 kg:
Mild symptoms: 15 mg/kg; repeat as needed for persistent mild symptoms every 15 minutes to a maximum total dose of 45 mg/kg; may administer doses in rapid succession if severe symptoms develop
Severe symptoms: 15 mg/kg; repeat twice in rapid succession to deliver a total dose of 45 mg/kg
Persistent symptoms: May repeat the entire series (45 mg/kg) beginning ~1 hour after administration of the last injection
Children ≥40 kg and Adolescents: Refer to adult dosing.
No specific dosage adjustment provided in manufacturers labeling; however, because pralidoxime is excreted in the urine, dosage reduction is recommended in patients with renal impairment.
No dosage adjustment provided in the manufacturer 's labeling; undergoes hepatic metabolism.
Powder for solution:
IV administration: Dilute 1000 mg with 20 mL SWFI to make a concentration of 50 mg/mL; this concentration may be administered in fluid-restricted patients or in situations where a more rapid administration is required. For administration in all other patients, the reconstituted solution should be further diluted with NS to a final concentration of 10-20 mg/mL. Discard any unused portion of vial.
IM administration: Dilute 1000 mg with 3.3 mL SWFI to a final concentration of ~300 mg/mL; discard any unused portion of vial.
IV:
Loading dose: Infuse as a 10-20 mg/mL solution over 15-30 minutes. Alternatively, if this is not practical or if pulmonary edema is present and/or fluid restriction is necessary, may administer as a 50 mg/mL solution by slow IV injection over ≥5 minutes.
Maintenance dose: Administer as a continuous or intermittent infusion at a rate not to exceed 200 mg/minute.
IM, SubQ: May administer IM or SubQ if IV administration is not feasible. For pediatric patients, IM injection should be into the anterolateral aspect of the thigh. If using the auto-injector (solution for IM injection), remove gray safety cap and place black end against outer thigh. Push hard until injector administers, hold in place for 10 seconds, then remove and massage area of injection. Auto-injector is intended for use by military personnel for self or buddy administration; may also be administered by qualified civilian emergency responders who have received adequate training on the recognition and treatment of nerve agent intoxication.
Store at 20 ‚ °C to 25 ‚ °C (68 ‚ °F to 77 ‚ °F); excursions permitted to 15 ‚ °C to 30 ‚ °C (59 ‚ °F to 86 ‚ °F).
Excipient information presented when available (limited, particularly for generics); consult specific product labeling.
Solution Auto-injector, Intramuscular, as chloride:
Generic: 600 mg/2 mL (2 mL)
Solution Reconstituted, Intravenous, as chloride:
Protopam Chloride: 1 g (1 ea)
There are no known significant interactions.
Heart rate, respiratory rate, muscle fasciculations and strength, pulse oximetry; cardiac monitor and blood pressure monitor required for IV administration
Frequency not defined.
Cardiovascular: Cardiac arrest, hypertension, tachycardia
Central nervous system: Dizziness, drowsiness, headache, paralysis, seizure
Dermatologic: Skin rash
Gastrointestinal: Nausea
Hepatic: Increased serum ALT (transient), increased serum AST (transient)
Local: Pain at injection site (IM)
Neuromuscular & skeletal: Fasciculations, increased creatine phosphokinase, laryngospasm, muscle rigidity, weakness
Ophthalmic: Accommodation disturbance, blurred vision, diplopia
Renal: Renal insufficiency
Respiratory: Apnea, hyperventilation
Decreased renal function will result in increased blood levels of pralidoxime.
Disease-related concerns:
- Carbamate poisoning: Pralidoxime is not indicated for the treatment of carbamate poisoning; acetylcholinesterase is weakly, but not permanently, affected by carbamates.
- Myasthenia gravis: Use with caution in patients with myasthenia gravis; administration may precipitate a myasthenic crisis.
- Nonanticholinesterase poisoning: Pralidoxime is not indicated for the treatment of poisoning due to phosphorus, inorganic phosphates, or organophosphates without anticholinesterase activity.
- Renal impairment: Use with caution in patients with renal impairment; dosage modification required.
Other warnings/precautions:
- Appropriate use: Clinical symptoms that are consistent with suspected organophosphate poisoning (eg, organophosphate anticholinesterase pesticides and nerve agents) should be treated with the antidote immediately; administration should not be delayed for confirmatory laboratory tests. Treatment should include proper evacuation and decontamination procedures as indicated; medical personnel should protect themselves from inadvertent contamination. Antidote administration is intended only for initial management; definitive and more intensive medical care is required following administration. Individuals should not rely solely on antidote for treatment; the concomitant use of atropine will be necessary and other supportive measures (eg, artificial respiration) may still be required.
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Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted. A case report did not show evidence of adverse events after pralidoxime administration during the second trimester (Kamha, 2005). 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).
Reactivates cholinesterase that had been inactivated by phosphorylation due to exposure to organophosphate pesticides and cholinesterase-inhibiting nerve agents (eg, terrorism and chemical warfare agents such as sarin) by displacing the enzyme from its receptor sites; removes the phosphoryl group from the active site of the inactivated enzyme
Vdss: 0.6 to 2.7 L/kg; Severely poisoned pediatric patients (n=11; age: 0.8 to 18 years): ~9 L/kg (range: 1.7 to 13.8 L/kg) (Schexnayder 1998); may increase with increasing severity of organophosphate intoxication
Hepatic
Urine (80% as metabolites and unchanged drug)
Serum: IV: 5 to 15 minutes; IM: ~35 minutes
Apparent: 74 to 77 minutes; Poisoned patients (IM, IV): 3 to 4 hours; Pediatric patients (n=11; age: 0.8 to 18 years): 2.4 to 5 hours
None
- 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?)
- Patient may experience fatigue, nausea, blurred vision, or injection site pain. Have patient report immediately to prescriber difficulty breathing, severe dizziness, angina, severe headache, vision changes, muscle weakness, or tachycardia (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.