Physostigmine behavior

T s accident occurred before we had fully established the effectiveness of physostigmine as an antidote, but we did have tetrahydroaminoacridine (TELA) and used it over several days to minimize his delirious behavior. We housed him in our newly constmcted padded ward, and watched him closely for two weeks as he gradually returned to an ostensibly normal mental state. I discussed the problem with Dr. Rioch at Walter Reed, who advised me to provide supportive counseling for as long as necessary to ensure full recovery. 

Schechter MD (1995) Scopolamine-physostigmine combination does not substitute for nicotine. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatr 19 499-508 Schechter MD, Meehan SM (1992) Further evidence for the mechanisms that may mediate nicotine discrimination, Pharmacol Biochem Behav 41 807-812 Schechter MD, Rosecrans JA (197 la) Behavioral evidence for two types of cholinergic receptor in the C,N,S, Eur J Pharmacol 15 375-378... 

Mewaldt, S. P., Ghoneim, M. M. (1979). The effects and interactions of scopolamine, physostigmine and methamphetamine on human memory. Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, 10, 205-210. 

Wenger, G. R. (1979). Effects of physostigmine, atropine and scopolamine on behavior maintained by a multiple schedule of food presentation in the mouse. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 209, 137—143. 

McMaster, S.B. and Eoster, R.E., Behavioral and morphological studies of the interaction between exercise and physostigmine, U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, Sixth Ann. Chem. Def. Biosci. Rev., August, 629, 1987. 

Agitated behavior (p 24) may respond to limiting sensory stimulation but may require sedation with haloperidol (see p 451), midazolam, or diazepam (see p 415). Do nof use physostigmine. 

References to papers describing the behavior of physostigmine upon paper, thin-layer, column, and gas chromatograms, its detection, and its quantitative estimation can be found in a recent review (12). 

---