Physostigmine
- TRADE NAMES: Antilirium; Isopto Eserine
- INDICATIONS: Miotic in glaucoma treatment; reverses toxic CNS effects caused by anticholinergic drugs
- SYNONYM: eserine
- CLASS: Cholinesterase inhibitor
- HALF-LIFE: 15–40 minutes
Bethanechol, Corticosteroids, Galantamine, Methacholine, Succinylcholine
PREGNANCY CATEGORY: C
Antilirium is a derivative of the Calabar bean, and its active moiety, physostigmine, is also known as eserine. Physostigmine is used to reverse the effect upon the nervous system caused by clinical or toxic dosages of drugs and herbs capable of producing the anticholinergic syndrome. Some of the drugs responsible are: amitriptyline, amoxapine, atropine, benztropine, biperiden, clidinium, cyclobenzaprine, desipramine, doxepin, hyoscyamine, imipramine, lorazepam, maprotiline, nortriptyline, protriptyline, propantheline, scopolamine, trimipramine. Some herbals that can elicit the anticholinergic syndrome are black henbane, deadly nightshade, Devil's apple, Jimson weed, Loco seeds or weeds, Matrimony vine, night blooming jessamine, stinkweed.
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Page last updated 07/31/2023
Symbol key
Incidence
- <1%
- 1-5%
- 5-10%
- 10-15%
- 15-20%
- 20-30%
- >30%
Warnings in other populations
- Breast feeding
- Geriatric
- Pediatric