(peer id oh STIG meen)
Myasthenia gravis (oral only): Treatment of myasthenia gravis.
Reversal of nondepolarizing muscle relaxants (injection only): Reversal agent or antagonist to the neuromuscular blocking effects of nondepolarizing muscle relaxants.
Military use: Pretreatment for Soman nerve gas exposure
Hypersensitivity to pyridostigmine, anticholinesterase agents, or any component of the formulation; mechanical intestinal or urinary obstruction
Documentation of allergenic cross-reactivity for anticholinergic muscle stimulants is limited. However, because of similarities in chemical structure and/or pharmacologic actions, the possibility of cross-sensitivity cannot be ruled out with certainty.
Myasthenia gravis:
Oral: Highly individualized dosing ranges:
Immediate-release: 60 to 1,500 mg/day, usually 600 mg/day divided into 5 to 6 doses, spaced to provide maximum relief
Sustained release: 180 to 540 mg once or twice daily (doses separated by at least 6 hours); Note: It may be necessary to use immediate-release therapy in conjunction with sustained-release therapy.
IM, IV (off-label use): To supplement during labor and postpartum, during myasthenic crisis, or when oral therapy is impractical: ~1/30th of oral dose; observe patient closely for cholinergic reactions. IM route preferred due to significant complications (eg, cardiac arrest) observed with the IV route (Maggi 2011; Varner 2013). May also administer as a continuous infusion for myasthenic crisis.
Continuous infusion: IV: 1 to 2 mg/hour with gradual titration in increments of 0.5 to 1 mg/hour, up to a maximum rate of 4 mg/hour (Berrouschot 1997; Saltis 1993)
Reversal of nondepolarizing muscle relaxants: IV: 0.1 to 0.25 mg/kg/dose (onset to peak effect is dose-dependent; return of twitch height to 90% of control occurs within ~6 minutes; full recovery usually occurs within 15 to 30 minutes)
Note: The monitoring of muscle twitch response to peripheral nerve stimulation is advised; administer pyridostigmine after spontaneous recovery of neuromuscular function has begun. Atropine sulfate or glycopyrrolate I.V. should be administered immediately prior to or simultaneously with pyridostigmine to minimize side effects. Inadequate reversal is possible; manage by manual or mechanical ventilation until recovery is judged adequate (additional doses are not recommended).
Soman nerve gas exposure, pretreatment (military use):Note: Do not administer pyridostigmine after Soman exposure; if taken immediately before exposure (eg, when gas attack alarm is given) or at the same time, it is not expected to be effective and may exacerbate the effects of a sub-lethal exposure to Soman.
Oral: 30 mg every 8 hours beginning several hours prior to exposure; discontinue at first sign of Soman exposure, then immediately begin atropine and pralidoxime.
Refer to adult dosing.
Myasthenia gravis (off-label use):
Note: Limited data available; dosage should be adjusted such that larger doses administered prior to time of greatest fatigue.
Oral: Immediate release: 1 mg/kg/dose every 4 to 6 hours; maximum daily dose: 7 mg/kg/day divided in 5 to 6 doses; (Usual daily dose: 600 mg/day; doses as high as 1,500 mg/day have been used) (Andrews 1998; Maggi 2011)
IM, IV: 0.05 to 0.15 mg/kg/dose (maximum dose: 10 mg) (Kleigman 2007). IM route preferred due to significant complications (eg, cardiac arrest) observed with the IV route (Maggi 2011).
There are no dosage adjustments provided in the manufacturer 's labeling. However, lower initial doses dosages may be required due to prolonged elimination in renal impairment.
There are no dosage adjustments provided in the manufacturer 's labeling.
Myasthenic crisis (off-label use):Continuous infusion: May dilute 25 mg in 100 mL of D5W (Saltis 1993).
Do not crush sustained release tablet. For myasthenic crisis (off-label use), may administer IM, slow IV push, or as a continuous infusion (Maggi 2011; Saltis 1993).
Store at 25 ‚ °C (77 ‚ °F); excursions permitted to 15 ‚ °C to 30 ‚ °C (59 ‚ °F to 86 ‚ °F); protect from light.
Military use: Store between 2 ‚ °C and 8 ‚ °C (36 ‚ °F to 46 ‚ °F); protect from light. Discard 3 months after issue. Do not dispense after removal from the refrigerator for more than a total of 3 months.
Excipient information presented when available (limited, particularly for generics); consult specific product labeling.
Solution, Intravenous, as bromide:
Regonol: 10 mg/2 mL (2 mL) [contains benzyl alcohol]
Syrup, Oral, as bromide:
Mestinon: 60 mg/5 mL (473 mL) [contains alcohol, usp, brilliant blue fcf (fd&c blue #1), fd&c red #40, sodium benzoate; raspberry flavor]
Tablet, Oral, as bromide:
Mestinon: 60 mg [scored]
Generic: 60 mg
Tablet Extended Release, Oral, as bromide:
Mestinon: 180 mg [scored]
Generic: 180 mg
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
Methocarbamol: May diminish the therapeutic effect of Pyridostigmine. 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, blood pressure, and heart rate especially with IV use; observe for cholinergic reactions (eg, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increased salivation), particularly when administered IV; consult individual institutional policies and procedures
1% to 10%:
Central nervous system: Twitching (3%), hyperesthesia (2%)
Dermatologic: Xeroderma (2%)
Gastrointestinal: Abdominal pain (7%), diarrhea (7%)
Genitourinary: Dysmenorrhea (5%), urinary frequency (2%)
Neuromuscular & skeletal: Myalgia (2%), neck pain (2%)
Ophthalmic: Amblyopia (2%)
Respiratory: Epistaxis (2%)
Frequency not defined:
Cardiovascular: Bradycardia (transient), chest tightness, decreased heart rate, increased blood pressure
Central nervous system: Confusion, depressed mood, disturbed sleep, drowsiness, headache, hypertonia, lack of concentration, lethargy, localized warm feeling, numbness of tongue, tingling of extremities, vertigo
Dermatologic: Alopecia, diaphoresis, skin rash
Gastrointestinal: Abdominal cramps, bloating, borborygmi, flatulence, increased peristalsis, nausea, salivation, vomiting
Hypersensitivity: Hypersensitivity reaction
Neuromuscular & skeletal: Fasciculations, muscle cramps, weakness
Ophthalmic: Eye pain, lacrimation, miosis, visual disturbance
Respiratory: Acute bronchitis (exacerbation), exacerbation of asthma, increased bronchial secretions
<1% (Limited to important or life-threatening): Fecal incontinence, loss of consciousness, pallor (postsyncopal), stiffness (arms or upper torso), thrombophlebitis, urinary incontinence
Concerns related to adverse effects:
- Cholinergic effects: Symptoms of excess cholinergic activity may occur (eg, salivation, sweating, urinary incontinence). Overdosage may result in cholinergic crisis (eg, muscle weakness), which must be distinguished from myasthenic crisis; discontinue immediately in the presence of cholinergic crisis.
- Hypersensitivity reactions: May occur; have atropine and epinephrine ready to treat hypersensitivity reactions.
Disease-related concerns:
- Cardiovascular disease: Use with caution in patients with bradycardia or other cardiac arrhythmias.
- Glaucoma: Use with caution; additive effect with antiglaucoma drugs may cause or exacerbate problems with night vision.
- Renal impairment: Use with caution in patients with renal impairment; initial lower doses may be needed; titrate to effect.
- Respiratory disease: Use with extreme caution in patients with asthma, bronchospastic disease, or COPD.
Concurrent drug therapy issues:
- Drug-drug interactions: Potentially significant interactions may exist, requiring dose or frequency adjustment, additional monitoring, and/or selection of alternative therapy. Consult drug interactions database for more detailed information.
Special populations:
- Bromide sensitivity: Use with caution in patients with bromide sensitivity.
- Pediatrics: Injection not indicated for use in neonates; may contain benzyl alcohol which has been associated with gasping syndrome" in neonates.
Dosage form specific issues:
- Injection: Must be administered by trained personnel; use of peripheral nerve stimulation to monitor neuromuscular function recovery and continuous patient observation until recovery of normal respiration is recommended. To counteract anticholinergic effects, use of glycopyrrolate or atropine sulfate simultaneously with or prior to administration is recommended. May contain benzyl alcohol which has been associated with gasping syndrome" in neonates.
- Oral: Adequate facilities should be available for cardiopulmonary resuscitation when testing and adjusting dose for myasthenia gravis.
Other warnings/precautions:
- Inadequate reversal of nondepolarizing muscle relaxants: Inadequate reversal induced by nondepolarizing muscle relaxants is possible; manage with manual or mechanical ventilation until recovery is adequate (additional doses not recommended). Failure to produce prompt (within 30 minutes) reversal of neuromuscular blockade may occur in the presence of extreme debilitation, carcinomatosis, or with concomitant use of certain broad-spectrum antibiotics, or anesthetic agents and other drugs which enhance neuromuscular blockade or cause respiratory depression.
- Military use: Only for pretreatment for exposure to Soman; discontinue pyridostigmine at the first sign of Soman exposure (do not administer pyridostigmine after Soman exposure); atropine and pralidoxime must be administered after Soman exposure (pyridostigmine pretreatment offers no benefit against Soman unless atropine and pralidoxime are administered once symptoms of poisoning appear). Use in conjunction with protective garments, including gas mask, hood and overgarments.
B/C (manufacturer dependent)
Adverse events were not observed in animal reproduction studies. Pyridostigmine may cross the placenta (Buckley 1968). Use of pyridostigmine may be continued during pregnancy for the treatment of myasthenia gravis (Norwood 2013; Skie 2010) and its use should be continued during labor (Norwood 2013). Transient neonatal myasthenia gravis may occur in 10% to 20% of neonates due to placental transfer of maternal antibodies (Skie 2010; Varner 2013).
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).
Inhibits destruction of acetylcholine by acetylcholinesterase which facilitates transmission of impulses across myoneural junction
Oral: Very poor (10% to 20%)
Vd: 0.53 to 1.76 L/kg (Aquilonius 1986)
Hepatic and at tissue site by cholinesterases
Urine (80% to 90% as unchanged drug) (Aquilonius 1986)
Recovery from vincristine neurotoxicity: Onset of action: 1 to 2 weeks (Akbayram 2010)
Myasthenia gravis: Oral: Within 30 minutes (Maggi 2011); IM:15 to 30 minutes; IV: Within 2 to 5 minutes
Oral: 1 to 2 hours (Aquilonius 1986)
Oral: 3 to 4 hours in the daytime (Maggi 2011); IM, IV: 2 to 3 hours
Oral: 1 to 2 hours; renal failure: ~6 hours (Aquilonius 1986)
IV: ~1.5 hours (Aquilonius 1980)
None (Aquilonius 1986)
- 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 change in balance, vision changes, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, drooling, sweating a lot, muscle cramps, or weakness (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.