Physostigmine + Neostigmine

You might want to grab this article from your library (Pubmed will answer many of your questions)


Acta Anaesthesiol Scand. 1981 Oct;25(5):387-90.Related Articles, Links

Comparison of physostigmine and neostigmine for antagonism of neuromuscular block.

Salmenpera M, Nilsson E.

The ability of physostigmine alone and in combination with neostigmine to reverse d-tubocurarine-induced neuromuscular block was evaluated in surgical patients. The relaxation was maintained at a level of 90% twitch suppression during balanced anesthesia, and antagonism was attempted with physostigmine 1.5 mg x 3; neostigmine 0.5 mg x 3; neostigmine 1.0 mg x 3; or with a combination of physostigmine 0.75 mg and neostigmine 0.5 mg x 3. The measured parameters included the twitch force or EMG amplitude of the adductor pollicis brevis muscle after supramaximal 0.1 Hz stimulation and fading of these responses after repetitive 2 and 50 Hz stimuli. Although the restitution rate of twitch height and EMG amplitude were essentially the same with both antagonists, there was a considerable time-lag in regeneration of the fades after repetitive stimuli with physostigmine as compared with the neostigmine group. The addition of physostigmine to a subeffective dose of neostigmine resulted in antagonism comparable to that seen in other groups. The clinical antagonism was satisfactory in all patients receiving physostigmine. The divergence of relaxation-indicating parameters (twitch responses and fades) after physostigmine suggests dissimilar modes of action of two antagonists at the neuromuscular junction

You may also want to review this article, it states a couple of reasons why physotigmine might be useful.



Anaesthesiol Reanim. 1989;14(4):235-41.Related Articles, Links

[Physostigmine--recent pharmacologic data and their significance for practical use]

[Article in German]

Rupreht J, Schneck HJ, Dworacek B.

Physostigmine is widely used for treatment of the central anticholinergic syndrome during recovery from anaesthesia. The drug is also very useful in treatment of intoxicated patients, in differential-diagnostic procedures of coma of unknown origin, and in restoration of vigilance after prolonged sedation for mechanical ventilation. Besides the specific central cholinergic action of physostigmine, several new pharmacological actions have now been established. Analgesic action is dependent on the interaction with the 5-HT (serotoninergic) system and is independent of narcotic or cholinergic agonists. The antianalgetic stress hormone, ACTH, also does not interfere with this action. Physostigmine does not interfere with the anaesthetic state when given during general anaesthesia. It attenuates several withdrawal states, especially alcohol delirium, opiate and nitrous oxide withdrawal syndromes. The drug may offer a protective mechanism against hypoxic damage of the brain and may also be beneficial in amnestic syndromes and sleep disorders. Physostigmine produces central and peripheral cardiovascular stimulation. It has been shown that physostigmine can be useful in prevention and treatment of postanaesthetic behavioural disturbances following anaesthesia with propofol. Number of indications for use of physostigmine has increased considerably

OK - all this being said - does anyone use physostigmine routinely for reversal of neuromuscular blockade, and if so, why?