What is Prostigmin Bromide (Neostigmine)?

Neostigmine affects chemicals in the body that are involved in the communciation between nerve impulses and muscle movement.
Neostigmine is used to treat the symptoms of myasthenia gravis.
Neostigmine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Prostigmin Bromide (Neostigmine)?

Do not use neostigmine if you have:

• a serious stomach condition called peritonitis; or
• a bladder or bowel obstruction

Before using neostigmine, tell your doctor if you have:

• asthma
• epilepsy or other seizure disorder
• a heart rhythm disorder
• problems with your blood vessels or circulation
• overactive thyroid; or
• a stomach ulcer

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use neostigmine, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether neostigmine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Prostigmin Bromide Side Effects

What are the possible side effects of Prostigmin Bromide (Neostigmine)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• severe diarrhea
• seizure (convulsions)
• feeling light-headed, fainting
• vision problems; or
• fast, slow, or uneven heartbeats

Other less serious side effects are more likely to occur, such as:

• sweating or urinating more than usual
• drooling, watery eyes
• warmth or tingly feeling
• nausea, vomiting, mild stomach pain
• dizziness, drowsiness, weakness, headache
• mild itching or skin rash; or
• muscle cramps, joint pain

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Prostigmin Bromide Interactions

What other drugs affect Prostigmin Bromide (Neostigmine)?

Before taking neostigmine, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

• atropine (Donnatal, and others)
• belladonna
• clidinium (Quarzan)
• dicyclomine (Bentyl)
• glycopyrrolate (Robinul)
• hyoscyamine (Anaspaz, Cystospaz, Levsin)
• mepenzolate (Cantil)
• methantheline (Provocholine)
• methscopolamine (Pamine)
• propantheline (Pro-Banthine)
• scopolamine (Transderm-Scop)
• antibiotics such as neomycin (Mycafradin, Neo-Tab), kanamycin (Kantrex), or streptomycin; or
• heart rhythm medications such as quinidine (Quinidex, Quinaglute), procainamide (Procan, Pronestyl), disopyramide (Norpace), mexiletine (Mexitil), tocainide (Tonocard), flecainide (Tambocor), propafenone (Rythmol), esmolol (Brevibloc), propranolol (Inderal), metoprolol (Toprol), amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), dofetilide (Tikosyn), sotalol (Betapace)

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use neostigmine, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
There may be other drugs not listed that can affect neostigmine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

What should I avoid while taking Prostigmin Bromide (Neostigmine)?

There are no restrictions on food, beverages, or activity while using neostigmine unless your doctor has told you otherwise.

Prostigmin Bromide Dosage

How should I take Prostigmin Bromide (Neostigmine)?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor.
The amount and timing of this medicine is extremely important to the success of your treatment. Carefully follow your doctor’s instructions about how much medicine to take and when to take it.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication. You may be asked to keep a daily record of when you took each dose and how long the effects lasted. This will help your doctor determine if your dose needs to be adjusted.
If you need to have any type of surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are taking neostigmine. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.
Store neostigmine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I overdose on Prostigmin Bromide (Neostigmine)?

Symptoms of a neostigmine overdose may include extreme muscle weakness, confusion, seizure (convulsions), severe diarrhea, muscle twitching, wheezing, chest tightness, and problems with vision or speech.

What happens if I miss a dose of Prostigmin Bromide (Neostigmine)?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Sourced from everydayhealth.com