Drugs Group 10

Antidote for selected chemical warfare agents and organophosphateexposures

Reactivates cholinesterase that has not irreversibly“aged”. The average aging time varies from minutes withsome military nerve agents to a few days with someorganophosphate pesticides

Organophosphate pesticide or military nerve agent poisoning,Unknown cholinesterase inhibitor poisoning

• Absolute: Inability to perform endotracheal intubation (ifneuromuscular blockage were to occur – a rare,dose and rate related complication)
• Relative: Myasthenia gravis, renal failure

• Adult: 1–2 g IV over 5-10 min. This dose may be repeated 1 hr after thefirst, if weakness or fasciculation have not resolved. 500 mg/hrcontinuous IV infusion for 24 hr after initial bolus
• Pediatric: 20–40 mg / kg IV over 10 min. 5–10 mg/kg/hr continuous IVinfusion for 24 hr after the initial bolus

Hormone

Oxytocin indirectly stimulates contraction of uterine smooth muscle by increasing the sodium permeability of uterine myofibrils. Produces intense uterine contractions

Postpartum bleeding after expulsion of the placenta

Any condition other than postpartum bleeding

Absence of additional fetuses (twins/triplets) must be establishedand placenta must be delivered prior to administration. Overdose can cause uterine rupture.

10-40 units in 1,000 ml titrated to uterine response (ideally infused at arate of 20–40 milliunits/min), or 10 units IM