Edrophonium

Abstract

Edrophonium''s onset and duration of antagonism (n = 26) and atropine requirement (n = 24) were determined under conditions of d-tubocurarine (dTc) neuromuscular blockade and halothane, N2O anesthesia. dTc was administered by continuous infusion to maintain a 90% depression of muscle twitch tension. Edrophnonium (0.03-1.0 mg/kg) was injected as an i.v. bolus in combination with atropine (0.5 mg). dTc infusion was continued until a stable 90% depression of muscle twitch tension was reestablished. Time-to-peak effect (onset of action), duration and magnitude of antagonism were recorded. The atropine requirement was determined during spontaneous recovery from dTc (0.3 mg/kg) and stable halothane, N2O anesthesia. Edrophonium (0.5 mg/kg) was mixed with 7, 15 or 30 .mu.g/kg of atropine, and compared to neostigmine (0.043 mg/kg) and atropine (15 .mu.g/kg). Blood pressure, heart rate and rhythm were recorded for 60 min following edrophonium administration. The time-to-peak antagonism for edrophonium (0.8-2.0 min) was far more rapid than neostigmine (7-11 min) or pyridostigmine (12-16 min). The ED50 for edrophonium was 0.125 mg/kg, but the dose-response curve was not parallel to those for neostigmine or pyridostigmine. In equiantagonistic doses, the duration of antagonism by edrophonium (66 min) did not differ from neostigmine (76 min), but was shorter than pyridostigmine. Edrophonium required 1/2 the amount of atropine as did neostigmine to prevent bradycardia. Evidently edrophonium has a more rapid onset than neostigmine and an equivalent duration of antagonism, and requires less atropine to prevent bradycardia.