Pyridostigmine
También conocido como: Mestinon, Distinon, Kalymin, Regonol
Pyridostigmine is a crucial medication for managing your pet's myasthenia gravis, but the dose must be very precise. * **Strict Dosing:** Give this medication exactly as prescribed by your veterinarian. Do not change the dose without consulting them, as the difference between an effective dose and a toxic dose is very small. * **Administration:** Giving the medication with food may help reduce stomach upset. Liquid forms are often preferred to allow for tiny dose adjustments. * **Watch for Toxicity:** Contact your veterinarian **immediately** if you notice signs of an overdose, which include: excessive drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, extreme weakness, muscle twitching, or difficulty breathing. * **Spontaneous Remission:** In some dogs, myasthenia gravis can resolve on its own over time, so your vet will monitor your pet closely to see if the medication can eventually be reduced or stopped.
Dosage must be set by your veterinarian for your specific pet. Never give human medication or another pet’s prescription without veterinary guidance.
Veterinary professional? See the full dosing-by-species reference on VetSheet →
What it is used for
- Myasthenia gravis (MG)
- Myasthenia gravis (MG)
- Myasthenia gravis (MG)
- Myasthenia gravis
- Myasthenia gravis (MG)
- Myasthenia gravis (MG)
- Acquired Myasthenia gravis (MG)
- Myasthenia gravis (MG)
- Myasthenia gravis (MG)
- Myasthenia gravis
How it is given
Possible side effects
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Excessive salivation (ptyalism)
- Sweating (in species with sweat glands)
- Increased bronchial secretions
- Bronchospasm
- Pulmonary edema
- Respiratory paralysis
- Miosis (pupil constriction)
- Blurred vision
- Lacrimation (tearing)
- Bradycardia
- Tachycardia
- Cardiospasm
- Hypotension
- Cardiac arrest
- Muscle cramps
- Weakness (can indicate cholinergic crisis)
- Increased salivation (ptyalism)
- Diarrhoea
- Abdominal cramps
- Bronchoconstriction
- Lacrimation
- Involuntary defecation and micturition
- Miosis
- Nystagmus
- Heart block
- Arrhythmias
- Agitation
- Muscle weakness
- Fasciculations
- Paralysis
Cautions & contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to anticholinesterase compounds or bromides
- Mechanical or physical obstructions of the urinary tract
- Mechanical or physical obstructions of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract
- Mechanical gastrointestinal obstruction
- Mechanical urinary tract obstruction
- Peritonitis
- > **High-Risk Patients:** Use with extreme caution in patients with bronchospastic disease, epilepsy, hyperthyroidism, bradycardia or other arrhythmias, vagotonia, or GI ulcer diseases. * **Pregnancy/Nursing:** FDA Category C. Excreted in maternal milk; use with caution in nursing patients. * **Dose Titration:** Doses must be carefully titrated. High doses can cause a cholinergic crisis, which presents as profound weakness and can be difficult to distinguish from a myasthenic crisis.
Drug interactions
- Atropine: Antagonizes the muscarinic effects of pyridostigmine. Use cautiously as it can mask early clinical signs of a life-threatening cholinergic crisis.
- Corticosteroids: May decrease the anticholinesterase activity of pyridostigmine. Discontinuing corticosteroids may suddenly increase anticholinesterase activity, requiring dose adjustments.
- Dexpanthenol: Theoretically may have additive cholinergic effects when used concurrently.
- Neuromuscular blocking drugs (e.g., aminoglycosides): May necessitate increased dosages of pyridostigmine when treating or diagnosing myasthenic patients.
- Magnesium (parenteral): Can antagonize anticholinesterase therapy due to its direct depressant effect on skeletal muscle.
- Muscle Relaxants: May prolong the Phase I block of depolarizing muscle relaxants (e.g., succinylcholine) and antagonize the actions of non-depolarizing agents (e.g., pancuronium, atracurium).
- Aminoglycosides: May antagonize the neuromuscular effects of pyridostigmine
- Clindamycin: May antagonize the neuromuscular effects of pyridostigmine
- Lincomycin: May antagonize the neuromuscular effects of pyridostigmine
- Propranolol: May antagonize the effects of pyridostigmine
- Suxamethonium: Pyridostigmine may enhance the effect of depolarizing muscle relaxants
- Pancuronium: Pyridostigmine antagonizes the effect of non-depolarizing muscle relaxants
- Vecuronium: Pyridostigmine antagonizes the effect of non-depolarizing muscle relaxants
Preguntas frecuentes
What is Pyridostigmine used for in pets?
Pyridostigmine is a crucial medication for managing your pet's myasthenia gravis, but the dose must be very precise. • Strict Dosing: Give this medication exactly as prescribed by your veterinarian. Do not change the dose without consulting them, as the difference between an effective dose and a toxic dose is very small. • Administration: Giving the medication with food may help reduce stomach upset. Liquid forms are often preferred to allow for tiny dose adjustments. • Watch for Toxicity: Contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice signs of an overdose, which include: excessive drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, extreme weakness, muscle twitching, or difficulty breathing. • Spontaneous Remission: In some dogs, myasthenia gravis can resolve on its own over time, so your vet will monitor your pet closely to see if the medication can eventually be reduced or stopped.
Is Pyridostigmine safe for my pet?
Dosage must be set by your veterinarian for your specific pet. Never give human medication or another pet’s prescription without veterinary guidance.
Este artículo es educación general y no sustituye el consejo veterinario profesional. Si tu mascota está mal, consulta a un veterinario.
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