Pyridostigmine effectiveness

The failure of physostigmine to reverse BZ effects during the first 8 hours (Fig. 8) is interesting and unexplained. It reminds one of the Berry and Davies findings (in 1970 at the British labs in Porton Down) which showed that the reversible anticholinesterase pyridostigmine was paradoxically effective as a prophylactic agent in the event of nerve gas exposure (see ref. ). 

To block effects of anticholinesterase ay ents IV 0.2 mg for each 1 mg neostigmine or 5 mg pyridostigmine. 

Cook, M.R., Graham, Ch., Sastre, A., Gerkovich, M.M. Physiological and performance effects of pyridostigmine bromide in healthy volunteers a dose-response study. Psychopharmacology 162, 186-192, 2002. 

However, severe constraints do exist on DoD use of IND drugs and vaccines for CBW defense in military combat. The issue of IND use arose in the Gulf War in the case of pyridostigmine bromide (PB), which was regarded as the most effective pretreatment against exposure to the nerve gas Soman, and pentavalent botulinum toxoid (BT)... 

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