Pyridostigmine Bromide
FDA Drug Information • Also known as: Mestinon, Pryidostigmine Bromide, Pyridostigmine Bromide, Regonol
- Brand Names
- Mestinon, Pryidostigmine Bromide, Pyridostigmine Bromide, Regonol
- Route
- ORAL
- Dosage Form
- TABLET
- Product Type
- HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG
Description
DESCRIPTION Pyridostigmine bromide tablets, USP are an orally active cholinesterase inhibitor. Chemically, pyridostigmine bromide is 3-hydroxy-1-methylpyridinium bromide dimethylcarbamate. Its structural formula is: Pyridostigmine bromide, USP is a white or almost white crystalline, deliquescent powder. It is very soluble in water and in alcohol, slightly soluble in hexane, practically insoluble in ether. Each pyridostigmine bromide tablet, USP intended for oral administration contains 60 mg of pyridostigmine bromide, USP. In addition, each tablet contains the following inactive ingredients: anhydrous lactose, colloidal silicon dioxide, low substituted hydroxypropyl cellulose, silicon dioxide and stearic acid. figure
What Is Pyridostigmine Bromide Used For?
INDICATIONS AND USAGE Pyridostigmine bromide tablets, USP are useful in the treatment of myasthenia gravis.
Dosage and Administration
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Pyridostigmine bromide tablets, USP is available as Conventional Tablets - each containing 60 mg pyridostigmine bromide. Dosage: The size and frequency of the dosage must be adjusted to the needs of the individual patient. Conventional Tablets - The average dose is ten 60 mg tablets, spaced to provide maximum relief when maximum strength is needed. In severe cases as many as 25 tablets a day may be required, while in mild cases one to six tablets a day may suffice. Note: For information on a diagnostic test for myasthenia gravis, and for the evaluation and stabilization of therapy, please see product literature on Tensilon ®# (edrophonium chloride).
Side Effects (Adverse Reactions)
ADVERSE REACTIONS The side effects of pyridostigmine bromide are most commonly related to overdosage and generally are of two varieties, muscarinic and nicotinic. Among those in the former group are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, increased peristalsis, increased salivation, increased bronchial secretions, miosis and diaphoresis. Nicotinic side effects are comprised chiefly of muscle cramps, fasciculation and weakness. Muscarinic side effects can usually be counteracted by atropine, but for reasons shown in the preceding section the expedient is not without danger. As with any compound containing the bromide radical, a skin rash may be seen in an occasional patient. Such reactions usually subside promptly upon discontinuance of the medication.
Warnings and Precautions
WARNINGS Although failure of patients to show clinical improvement may reflect underdosage, it can also be indicative of overdosage. As is true of all cholinergic drugs, overdosage of pyridostigmine bromide may result in cholinergic crisis, a state characterized by increasing muscle weakness which, through involvement of the muscles of respiration, may lead to death. Myasthenic crisis due to an increase in the severity of the disease is also accompanied by extreme muscle weakness, and thus may be difficult to distinguish from cholinergic crisis on a symptomatic basis. Such differentiation is extremely important, since increases in doses of pyridostigmine bromide or other drugs of this class in the presence of cholinergic crisis or of a refractory or "insensitive" state could have grave consequences. Osserman and Genkins 1 indicate that the differential diagnosis of the two types of crisis may require the use of Tensilon ®# (edrophonium chloride) as well as clinical judgment. The treatment of the two conditions obviously differs radically. Whereas the presence of myasthenic crisis suggests the need for more intensive anticholinesterase therapy, the diagnosis of cholinergic crisis, according to Osserman and Genkins, 1 calls for the prompt withdrawal of all drugs of this type. The immediate use of atropine in cholinergic crisis is also recommended. Atropine may also be used to abolish or obtund gastrointestinal side effects or other muscarinic reactions; but such use, by masking signs of overdosage, can lead to inadvertent induction of cholinergic crisis. For detailed information on the management of patients with myasthenia gravis, the physician is referred to one of the excellent reviews such as those by Osserman and Genkins, 2 Grob 3 or Schwab. 4 , 5 Usage in Pregnancy: The safety of pyridostigmine bromide during pregnancy or lactation in humans has not been established. Therefore, use of pyridostigmine bromide in women who may become pregnant requires weighing the drug's potential benefits against its possible hazards to mother and child.
Contraindications
CONTRAINDICATIONS Pyridostigmine bromide tablets, USP are contraindicated in mechanical intestinal or urinary obstruction, and particular caution should be used in its administration to patients with bronchial asthma. Care should be observed in the use of atropine for counteracting side effects, as discussed below.
How Supplied
HOW SUPPLIED Pyridostigmine Bromide Tablets USP, 60 mg having functional scoring. Pyridostigmine Bromide Tablets USP, 60 mg are white to off-white, round, flat, uncoated tablets with quadrisect breakline on one side and debossed with '659' on the other side and are supplied as follows: NDC 68382-659-06 in bottles of 30 tablets with child-resistant closure NDC 68382-659-16 in bottles of 90 tablets with child-resistant closure NDC 68382-659-01 in bottles of 100 tablets with child-resistant closure NDC 68382-659-05 in bottles of 500 tablets Storage Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) [See USP Controlled Room Temperature] . Dispense in original container. IMPORTANT: These tablets are hygroscopic. Keep in a dry place with the silica gel enclosed.
About This Information
This drug information is sourced from FDA-approved labeling via the openFDA database. It is intended for educational and reference purposes only. This is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making decisions about medication. Drug information may be updated by the FDA; check with your pharmacist for the most current information.
What are side effects?
Side effects are unwanted reactions that can occur when taking a medication. They range from mild (headache, nausea) to severe (allergic reactions, organ damage). Not everyone experiences side effects, and severity varies. Report any concerning side effects to your doctor.
What are drug interactions?
Drug interactions occur when a medication is affected by another drug, food, or supplement. Interactions can make medications less effective or cause dangerous side effects. Always tell your doctor about all medications and supplements you take.