Physostigmine in Anticholinergic Poisoning: An Old Antidote With Resurgence

Physostigmine as an Antidote

Introduction: Rapid treatment of patients with anticholinergic toxicity in the Ernergcncy Department (ED) has remained problematic for many years. These patients are often agitated. uncooperative, and unable to provide a clear history. Physostigmine is a specific antidote for anticholinergic toxicity. yet its popularity has waned due to controversy surrounding its potential central nervo~is sys...

Anticholinergic agents in cicutoxin poisoning.

Acute anticholinergic poisoning in children.

We report two cases of unintentional poisoning with anticholinergic agents. The first patient, a 7-year-old girl, was prescribed four different medications by a general practitioner for treatment of abdominal colic and diarrhoea. All drugs had anticholinergic properties. The second patient, a 16-month-old boy, ingested his mother's cyproheptadine tablets. Both children presented with central an...

Anticholinergic poisoning associated with herbal tea.

An outbreak of cholinergic poisoning occurred in New York City during a 3-day period. Seven individuals from three families of South American origin were affected. Signs and symptoms of illness included dry skin, hyperthermia, tachycardia, dilated pupils, agitation, and hallucinations. Onset of illness in all cases was temporally associated with consumption of a tea that was labeled "Paraguay T...

N-acetylcysteine as an antidote in methylmercury poisoning.

Methylmercury is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant and potent neurotoxin. Treatment of methylmercury poisoning relies almost exclusively on the use of chelating agents to accelerate excretion of the metal. The present study demonstrates that oral administration of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a widely available and largely nontoxic amino acid derivative, produces a profound acceleration of urinar...