title: The effect on heart rate of neuromuscular blockade reversal by pyridostigmine.
abstract: Pyridostigmine without atropine, pyridostigmine with atropine or neostigmine with atropine were used to antagonise neuro-muscular blockade induced by d-tubocurarine in forty otherwise healthy, female patients recovering from gynaecological surgery. Pulse rates fell significantly (P less than 0.01, control heart rate 72 +/- 18 beats/min (M +/- SD) to 55 +/- 13 beats/min) at ten minutes after pyridostigmine (10 mg/70 kg), necessitating administration of atropine (1.25 mg/70 kg) by fifteen minutes after pyridostigmine. After an initial rise in rate, pulse rates also fell significantly (P less than 0.01, control heart rate 70 +/- 12 beats/min to 44 +/- 11 beats/min) at fifteen minutes after injection of neostigmine (2.5 mg/70 kg) with atropine (1.25 mg/70 kg). By contrast when pyridostigmine and atropine were used together, pulse rates rose and then fell, but mean values never fell below control during a twenty-minute observation period. It was concluded that pyridostigmine should not be given alone, but requires the use of atropine to prevent bradycardia. This combination may, however, provide a more stable heart rate than that seen with neostigmine and atropine in usual doses, when these drugs are used to antagonise d-tubocurarine.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009388:Neostigmine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D011674:Pulse / Q000187:drug effects; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014403:Tubocurarine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D009466:Neuromuscular Blocking Agents; D009388:Neostigmine; D001285:Atropine; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide; D014403:Tubocurarine