NEOSTIGMINE Ampoule is indicated for:

 

Myasthenia  Gravis,  antagonist  to  non-depolarizing  neuromuscular  blockade,  Paralytic  Ileus,  Post- operative Urinary Retention; Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia.

Neostigmine Methylsulphate should be given very slowly by the IV route. A syringe of Atropine Sulfate should always be available to counteract severe cholinergic reactions should they occur.

Myasthenia Gravis: 1 – 2.5 mg by IM or SC injection at intervals throughout the day, when maximum strength is needed. The usual duration of action of a dose is two to four hours. The total daily dose is usually 5 – 20 mg by injection but higher doses may be needed by some patients.

Neonatal Myasthenia Gravis, may be treated with 0.1mg Neostigmine intramuscularly initially. Thereafter, the dose must be titrated individually. But is usually 0.05 – 0.25mg IM or 0.03mg/kg IM, every two – four hours. Because of the self-limiting nature of the disease in neonates, the daily dosage should be reduced until the drug can be withdrawn.

Older Children: (Under 12 years of age) May be given 0.2 – 0.5mg by injection as required. Dosage requirements should be adjusted according to the response of the patient.

Antagonist to Non-depolarizing Neuromuscular Blockade: Reversal of Neuromuscular blockade with Neostigmine should not be attempted unless there is spontaneous recovery from paralysis.

Adults and Children: A single dose of Neostigmine 0.05 – 0.07 mg/kg body-weight and Atropine 0.02

– 0.03 mg/kg body weight, by slow IV injection over one minute is usually adequate for complete reversal of Non-depolarizing Muscle Relaxants within 5 – 15 minutes. The maximum recommended dose of Neostigmine in adults is 5 mg and in children 2.5 mg.

Atropine and Neostigmine may be given simultaneously, but in patients with Bradycardia, the pulse rate should be increased to 80 per minute with Atropine before administering Neostigmine.

Other Indications:

 

Adults: 0.5 – 2.5 mg Neostigmine Methylsulphate by SC or IM injection.

 

Children: 0.125 – 1 mg by injection. Doses may be varied according to the individual needs of the patient.

Elderly: There are no specific dosage recommendations for Neostigmine Methylsulphate in the elderly.

Neostigmine Methylsulphate Injection is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to the drug. Neostigmine Methylsulphate should not be administered to patients with mechanical obstruction of gastrointestinal or urinary tracts, peritonitis or doubtful bowel viability. Neostigmine Methylsulphate should not be used in conjunction with depolarising muscle relaxants such as suxamethonium as neuromuscular blockade may be potentiated.

Neostigmine should be used with extreme caution in patients with asthma as the parasympathomimetic action of Neostigmine may cause bronchoconstriction.

Bradycardia,  with  the  potential  for  progression  to  asystole,  may  occur  in  patients  receiving Neostigmine by intravenous injection unless atropine is given simultaneously. Extreme caution should 

be employed when treating patients with pre-existing bradycardia, cardiac arrhythmia or recent coronary occlusion.

Patients who are hyperreactive to Neostigmine experience a severe cholinergic reaction to the drug. Atropine sulphate should always be available as an antagonist for the muscarinic effects of Neostigmine.

Neostigmine should be used with caution in patients with epilepsy, vagotonia, hyperthyroidism, peptic ulceration or Parkinsonism.

Administration of anticholinesterase agents to patients with intestinal anastomoses may produce rupture of the anastomosis or leakage of intestinal contents.

Elderly:

 

Although there are no specific dosage requirements in the elderly, these patients may be more susceptible to dysrhythmias than younger patients.

Inhaled anaesthetics:

 

Neostigmine Methylsulphate should not be given during cyclopropane or halothane anaesthesia; although it may be used after withdrawal of these agents

 

Neuromuscular Blocking Agents:

 

Neostigmine effectively antagonises the effect of Non-depolarizing muscle relaxants (e.g. Tubocurarine, Gallamine or Pancuronium) and this interaction is used to therapeutic advantage to reverse muscle relaxation after surgery. Neostigmine does not antagonise, and it may in fact prolong, the phase I block of depolarizing muscle relaxants such as Succinylcholine.

Other Drugs:

 

Atropine antagonises the muscarinic effects of Neostigmine, the interaction is utilized to counteract the muscarinic symptoms of the Neostigmine toxicity.

Anticholinesterase agents are sometimes effective in reversing Neuromuscular Block induced by Aminoglycoside Antibiotics. However, Aminoglycoside Antibiotics and other drugs that interfere with Neuromuscular transmission should be used cautiously, if at all, in patients with Myasthenia Gravis and the dose of Neostigmine may have to be adjusted accordingly.

The use of Neostigmine Methylsulphate during pregnancy or lactation has not been established. Although the possible hazards to mother and child must be weighed against the potential benefits in every case. Experience with Myasthenia Gravis has revealed no untoward effect of the drug on the course of pregnancy. As the severity of Myasthenia Gravis often fluctuates considerably, particular care is required to avoid cholinergic crisis due to overdosage of Neostigmine.

Only negligible amounts of Neostigmine Methylsulphate are excreted in breast milk. Nevertheless, attention should be paid to possible effects on the breast-feeding infant

Not Applicable.

Adverse  effects  of  Neostigmine  are  chiefly  those  of  exaggerated  response  to  parasympathetic stimulation.

Nervous system disorders:

 

Cholinergic syndrome, especially at high doses. In patients with myasthenia gravis, cholinergic crisis may be difficult to distinguish from myasthenia crisis (see section 4.9).

Eye disorders:

 

Miosis, lacrimation increased.

 

Cardiac disorders:

 

Bradycardia, decreased cardiac conduction, in severe cases possibly leading to heart block or cardiac arrest.

Vascular disorders: Hypotension.

Respiratory, thoracic or mediastinal disorders: Increased bronchial secretion, bronchospasm.

Gastrointestinal disorders:

 

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, salivary hypersecretion. Increased intestinal motility may result in involuntary defecation.

Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders: Hyperhidrosis.

Musculoskeletal, connective tissue and bone disorders: Muscle spasms

Renal and urinary disorders: Urinary incontinence

Neostigmine Methylsulphate overdosage may include Cholinergic Crisis, which is characterised by nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, excessive salivation and sweating, increased bronchial secretions, miosis, bradycardia or tachycardia, cardiospasm, bronchospasm, incoordination, muscle cramps, fasciculation and paralysis. Extremely high doses may produce CNS symptoms of agitation, fear or restlessness. Death may result from cardiac arrest or respiratory paralysis and pulmonary oedema. In patients with Myasthenia Gravis, in whom overdosage is most likely to occur, fasciculation and adverse parasympathomimetic effects may be mild or absent making cholinergic crisis difficult to distinguish from Myasthenia crisis.

Treatment: Maintenance of adequate respiration is of primary importance. Tracheostomy, Bronchial aspiration and postural drainage may be required; Respiration can be assisted mechanically or with oxygen, if necessary.

Neostigmine Methylsulphate should be discontinued immediately and 1 – 4 mg of Atropine Sulphate administered IV. Additional doses of Atropine may be given every 5 – 30 minutes as needed to control muscarinic symptoms. Atropine overdosage should be avoided as tenacious secretions and bronchial plugs may result.

Neostigmine inhibits cholinesterase activity and prolongs and intensifies the muscarinic and nicotinic effects of acetylcholine. The anticholinesterase actions of Neostigmine are reversible. It is used mainly for its action on skeletal muscle and less frequently to increase the activity of smooth muscle. Neostigmine is used in the treatment of Myasthenia Gravis

Neostigmine is a quaternary ammonium compound and is poorly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. Following parenteral administration as the methylsulphate, Neostigmine is metabolised partly by hydrolysis of the ester linkage and is excreted in the urine both as unchanged drug and as metabolites. The half-life of Neostigmine is only one to two hours

No further information other than that which is included in the Summary of Product Characteristics.

Sodium Dihydrogen Phosphate Dihydrate.

Sodium Hydroxide.

Sodium Chloride for Injection.

Water of Injection.

Not Appilcable.

3 years

Store at temperature below 30°C.

A carton box containing a pamphlet and white opaque or transparent drawer (containing 5 amber glass ampoules, each of 1 ml).

Not special requirements