Self-Administration of Pralidoxime in Nerve Gas Poisoning with A Note on the Stability of the Drug

Abstract

Plasma concentrations of pralidoxime methane sulphonate (P2S) have been determined in man after self-administration by an automatic injector. After administration of 10 mg./kg. P2S in a 50 per cent w/v solution, concentrations over 4 μg./ml. were reached within 6 min. and maintained for about 90 min. After 20 mg./kg., plasma concentrations over 4 μg./ml. were maintained for about 170 min. Except for pain at the site of injection, which disappeared after a few hr., no serious side reactions could be detected. The drug can be stored for 5 years at 5° with less than 7 per cent decomposition. The decomposition products were found to be less toxic than the unchanged oxime. N-Methylpyridinium-2-carboxamide was identified as a major degradation product.