Respiratory and Skeletal Muscle Function after Acute Pyridostigmine Bromide Administration
Abstract
This study examined respiratory and skeletal muscle function in response to an acute oral administration of pyridostigmine bromide (PYR). Since PYR is currently issued to U.S. Army personnel to use as a prophylactic drug for protection against chemical (organophosphate) warfare nerve-agents, should be a threat, our purpose was to document changes that might occur in respiratory and skeletal muscle function. We found that one single, orally administered dose (30mg) of PYR did not significantly alter any measurements of respiratory function made in this study: forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in one second, maximal voluntary ventilation in 15 seconds, carbon dioxide sensitivity, or maximal inspiratory and expiratory flow rates. Neither did we note significant changes in the measurements we made of skeletal muscle strength, endurance and damage: peak handgrip strength and 60% peak hand-grip endurance time, peak torque for leg extension at 30 and 180 deg sec -1, and serum enzymes representative of muscle tissue damage. Since soldiers are instructed to take PYR in 30mg doses, three times daily, for seven or more days during threat of chemical nerve-agent exposure, these data may not be directly applicable to multiple dose of chronic administration of pyridostigmine bromide.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA232748
Entities
People
- Bruce S. Cadarette
- Leslie Levine
- Margaret A. Kolka
- William A. Latzka
Organizations
- United States Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine