Atropine unit

At least 1 week after their arrival, the rats are given atropine sulfate (0.4 mg/kg, i.p.) and anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital (50 mg/kg i.p.) or isoflurane gas (5%). When necessary, supplemental doses of sodium pentobarbital are given or isoflurane gas is adjusted to maintain anesthesia. The rats are hydrated with 0.9% saline (3.0 cc, s.c.) and given penicillin (0.05 cc 1500 units, i.m.). 

Diphenoxylate (marketed in combination with atropine as Lomotil in the United States) is chemically related to both analgesic and anticholinergic compounds. It is as effective in the treatment of diarrhea as the opium derivatives, and at the doses usually employed, it has a low incidence of central opioid actions. Diphenoxylate is rapidly metabolized by ester hydrolysis to the biologically active metabolite difenoxylic acid. Lomotil is recommended as adjunctive therapy in the management of diarrhea. It is contraindicated in children under 2 years old and in patients with obstructive jaundice. Adverse reactions often caused by the atropine in the preparation include anorexia, nausea, pruritus, dizziness, and numbness of the extremities. 

Diphenoxylate (not more than 2.5 mg and not less than 0.025 mg of atropine per dosage unit, as in Lomotil)... 

Not more than 2.5 milligrams of diphenoxylate and not less than 25 micrograms of atropine sulfate per dosage unit. 

Atropine is the racemic mixture of l- and o-hyoscya-mine and possesses 50% of the antimuscarinic potency of L-hyoscyamine. Atropine is derived from components of the Belladonna plant and is also present in other plants from the Solanaceae family. Women in ancient times often dripped the plant s juices into their eyes, causing mydriasis and thereby enhancing their beauty. In Italian, Belladonna translates to beautiful lady . In the United States, the atropine autoinjector has been in use since 1973 for the treatment of exposures to chemical warfare nerve agents and insecticides. 

Its active principle, daturine, has been identified with the alkaloid atropine, for which it is a perfect substitute. In 1916 one firm in the United States used one and a half million pounds of this plant for the manufacture of atropine. 

In mass casualty situations, intravenous antidotes may not be available. In that case, the intramuscular administration is acceptable. Most Emergency Medical Systems in the United States now stock military Autoinjector units containing atropine and pralidoxime, although kits with pediatric doses may not be available. However, in critical situations, children older than 2 or 3 years of age weighing at least 13 kg might benefit from 2 mg of atropine and 600 mg pralidoxime administered intramuscularly with auto-injectors (7). Experience with the accidental atropine auto-injection in 240 Israeli children unexposed to nerve agents revealed that... 

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