Pyridostigmine For Military Combat Medical Use (Systemic)

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your medical officer will make. For pyridostigmine, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to pyridostigmine or any of the anticholinesterase agents (certain drugs used during surgery like physostigmine, edrophonium, neostigmine, and ambenonium). Also tell your medical officer if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Pyridostigmine has not been studied in pregnant women. However, pyridostigmine has not been shown to cause birth defects or other major problems in animal studies.

Breast-feeding - It is not known if pyridostigmine passes into breast milk.

Children -

Older adults - May medicines have not been studied specifically in older people. Therefore, it may not be known whether they work exactly the same way they do in younger adults or if they cause different side effects or problems in older people. There is no specific information comparing use of pyridostigmine in the elderly with use in other age groups.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. Tell your health care professional if you are taking any other prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicine.

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of pyridostigmine. Make sure you tell your medical officer if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Asthma (in the bronchial tubes) or
• Irregular or slowed heartbeat or
• Slowed rate of breathing - Pyridostigmine may make the condition worse

• Bladder blockage or
• Bowel blockage - Pyridostigmine should not be used if you have these medical problems

• Bromide allergy - Rash and other side effects may occur