MESTINON- pyridostigmine bromide syrup
MESTINON- pyridostigmine bromide tablet
MESTINON- pyridostigmine bromide tablet, extended release
Valeant Pharmaceuticals North America LLC
DESCRIPTION
Mestinon (pyridostigmine bromide) is an orally active cholinesterase inhibitor. Chemically, pyridostigmine bromide is 3-hydroxy-1-methylpyridinium bromide dimethylcarbamate. Its structural formula is:
Mestinon is available in the following forms: Syrup containing 60 mg pyridostigmine bromide per teaspoonful in a vehicle containing 5% alcohol, glycerin, lactic acid, sodium benzoate, sorbitol, sucrose, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Blue No. 1, flavors and water. Tablets containing 60 mg pyridostigmine bromide; each tablet also contains lactose, silicon dioxide and stearic acid. Timespan Tablets containing 180 mg pyridostigmine bromide; each tablet also contains carnauba wax, corn-derived proteins, magnesium stearate, silica gel and tribasic calcium phosphate.
ACTIONS
Mestinon inhibits the destruction of acetylcholine by cholinesterase and thereby permits freer transmission of nerve impulses across the neuromuscular junction. Pyridostigmine is an analog of neostigmine (Prostigmin), but differs from it in certain clinically significant respects; for example, pyridostigmine is characterized by a longer duration of action and fewer gastrointestinal side effects.
INDICATION
Mestinon is useful in the treatment of myasthenia gravis.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Mestinon is contraindicated in mechanical intestinal or urinary obstruction, and particular caution should be used in its administration to patients with bronchial asthma. Care should be observed in the use of atropine for counteracting side effects, as discussed below.
DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION
Mestinon is available in three dosage forms:
Syrup
raspberry-flavored, containing 60 mg pyridostigmine bromide per teaspoonful (5 mL). This form permits accurate dosage adjustment for children and "brittle" myasthenic patients who require fractions of 60 mg doses. It is more easily swallowed, especially in the morning, by patients with bulbar involvement.
Conventional Tablets
each containing 60 mg pyridostigmine bromide.
Timespan Tablets
each containing 180 mg pyridostigmine bromide. This form provides uniformly slow release, hence prolonged duration of drug action; it facilitates control of myasthenic symptoms with fewer individual doses daily. The immediate effect of a 180 mg Timespan Tablet is about equal to that of a 60 mg Conventional Tablet; however, its duration of effectiveness, although varying in individual patients, averages 2� times that of a 60 mg dose.
Dosage
The size and frequency of the dosage must be adjusted to the needs of the individual patient.