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Edrophonium
- indication:For the differential diagnosis of myasthenia gravis and as an adjunct in the evaluation of treatment requirements in this disease. It may also be used for evaluating emergency treatment in myasthenic crises.
- pharmacologypharmacology:
- mechanism: Edrophonium works by prolonging the action acetylcholine, which is found naturally in the body. It does this by inhibiting the action of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase. Acetylcholine stimulates nicotinic and muscarinic receptors. When stimulated, these receptors have a range of effects.
- toxicity: With drugs of this type, muscarine-like symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sweating, increased bronchial and salivary secretions and bradycardia) often appear with overdosage (cholinergic crisis).
- absorprion: Rapidly absorbed.
- halflife: Distribution half-life is 7 to 12 minutes. Elimination half-life is 33 to 110 minutes.
- roouteelimination: Edrophonium is primarily renally excreted with 67% of the dose appearing in the urine. Hepatic metabolism and biliary excretion have also been demonstrated in animals
- volumedistribution: * 1.6±0.4 L/kg [Adults] * 2.2±1.5 L/kg [Children (0.08-10 yrs)] * 1.8±1.2 L/kg [Elderly (65-75 yrs)]
- clearance: * 6.8 +/- 2. mL/kg/min [Adults] * 6.4 +/- 3.9 mL/kg/min [Children (0.08-10 yrs)] * 2.9 +/- 1.9 mL/kg/min [Elderly (65-75 yrs)]