BACKGROUND Treatment of chronic constipation is creating one of the major problems for doctors and patients. Pyridostigmine increases the gastrointestinal motility through the effects on cholinesterase. It seems that this mechanism can reduce chronic constipation. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of pyridostigmine and bisacodyl on chronic constipation. METHODS This study was c...

The cardiovascular electrophysiologic basis for the action of pyridostigmine, an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, has not been investigated. The objective of the present study was to determine the cardiac electrophysiologic effects of a single dose of pyridostigmine bromide in an open-label, quasi-experimental protocol. Fifteen patients who had been indicated for diagnostic cardiac electrophysio...

OBJECTIVE To determine the acute effects of pyridostigmine bromide, a reversible cholinesterase inhibitor, during exercise in patients with coronary artery disease. DESIGN Double blind, randomised, placebo controlled, crossover study. SETTING Outpatients evaluated in an exercise test laboratory. PATIENTS 15 patients with exercise induced myocardial ischaemia. INTERVENTIONS Maximal cardi...

AIMS The purpose of the present work was to investigate the ability of pyridostigmine encapsulated in long-circulating liposomes, to protect against ECG (electrocardiogram) alterations induced by sympathetic stimulation in rats. MAIN METHODS The encapsulation of pyridostigmine was carried out by freeze-thaw and extrusion. Blood pressure and ECG (limb lead II) were monitored in anaesthetized m...

OBJECTIVES To investigate the effect of pyridostigmine on fatigue, physical performance, and muscle function in subjects with postpoliomyelitis syndrome. METHODS 67 subjects with increased fatigue and new weakness in one quadriceps muscle showing neuromuscular transmission defects, were included in a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled trial of 60 mg pyridostigmine four times a day f...

OBJECTIVE To characterise the effects of acetylcholinesterase inhibition with pyridostigmine on parasympathetic tone in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). DESIGN Prospective randomised, double blind crossover trial. SETTING University hospital outpatient heart failure clinic. PATIENTS 20 ambulatory subjects with stable CHF (mean age 55 years, mean ejection fraction 24%). INTERVE...

We have studied the effects of alcuronium in 10 healthy, non-anaesthetized volunteers after they had been taking oral pyridostigmine 30 mg 8 hourly. The responses of adductor pollicis were recorded using an isolated forearm procedure (IFP) during onset and recovery of neuromuscular block produced by 1.5 mg of relaxant. Previously noted disparities between mechanomyogram and electromyogram measu...

BACKGROUND Midodrine hydrochloride is the only drug demonstrated in a placebo-controlled treatment trial to improve orthostatic hypotension (OH) but it significantly worsens supine hypertension. By enhancing ganglionic transmission, pyridostigmine bromide can potentially ameliorate OH without worsening supine hypertension. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of a single 60-mg dose of pyridosti...

In 18 patients with generalised myasthenia treated with oral pyridostigmine, muscular strength, decrement of neuromuscular transmission in the trapezius muscle on repetitive accessory nerve stimulation, and pyridostigmine plasma level were measured repeatedly during 1-3 dosing intervals. Significant correlations between pyridostigmine concentrations and functional parameters were present in thr...

We have compared the antagonism of neuromuscular block produced by pipecuronium with pancuronium in 80 anaesthetized surgical patients using mechanomyography and electromyography. Pancuronium 0.1 mg kg-1 or pipecuronium 0.07 mg kg-1 was given after induction of anaesthesia and neuromuscular block was adjusted to 75% twitch depression at the time of antagonism. The following regimens were used: ...