Paper I
2022 February (2019 Scheme) · 100 marks · 180 min

Question

Therapeutic uses and adverse effects of Neostigmine

Q124 marksShort Answers

Answer

Neostigmine is a reversible anticholinesterase, quaternary (does not cross the blood-brain barrier), with prominent direct skeletal-muscle action.

Therapeutic uses:

  • Myasthenia gravis — first-line symptomatic therapy, allowing acetylcholine to interact repeatedly with the reduced pool of available receptors.
  • Reversal of non-depolarizing neuromuscular blockade — raises ACh concentration at the NMJ enough to out-compete a competitive blocker (given with atropine to block accompanying muscarinic effects).
  • Postoperative urinary retention and paralytic ileus — increases smooth muscle tone in gut/bladder while relaxing the corresponding sphincters, promoting peristalsis/evacuation and bladder voiding.

Adverse effects: muscarinic overactivity — salivation, sweating, bradycardia, bronchospasm, GI cramps/diarrhea; cholinergic crisis (muscle weakness paradoxically worsening) with overdose, distinguishable from a myasthenic crisis by the edrophonium test.

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