Pralidoxime Injection

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you pralidoxime in a hospital or clinic. You may also be taught how to give your medicine at home. pralidoxime is preferably given through a needle placed in one of your veins. It may also be given as a shot under your skin or into a muscle.

pralidoxime is available in two forms: a vial and an autoinjector.

For patients using the pralidoxime autoinjector (automatic injection device):

• You will be trained to use the pralidoxime autoinjector by a medic or other trained military personnel. You will also be told the conditions under which it should be used.
• The autoinjector also comes with patient directions. Read them carefully before you actually need to use pralidoxime. Then, when an emergency arises, you will know how to inject the pralidoxime.
• It is important that you do not remove the safety cap on the autoinjector until you are ready to use it. This prevents spillage of the medicine from the device during storage and handling.
• To use the pralidoxime autoinjector:
  • Remove the gray safety cap.
  • Place the black tip of the device on the thigh, with the injector pointed straight at the thigh.
  • Press hard into the thigh until the autoinjector functions. Hold in place for several seconds. Remove the autoinjector and dispose of it as directed.
  • Massage the injected area for 10 seconds.

Dosing

The dose of pralidoxime will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of pralidoxime. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For injection dosage form:
  • For treatment of organic phosphorus pesticide poisoning:
    • Adults and teenagers—At first, 1000 to 2000 milligrams (mg) injected into a vein usually as an infusion in 100 milliliters (mL) of normal saline, over a 15- to 30-minute period. The dose may be repeated after one hour, and then every eight to twelve hours if muscle weakness persists.
    • Children and teenagers 16 years of age and younger—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 20 to 50 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) (9.07 to 22.7 mg per pound) of body weight injected into a vein. The dose may be repeated after one hour, and then every ten to twelve hours if muscle weakness persists.
  • For treatment of organic phosphorus chemical (“nerve gas”) poisoning:
    • Adults, teenagers, and children weighing 40 kilograms (kg) or more—600 milligrams (mg) or 2 milliliters (mL) injected into a muscle. The dose may be repeated fifteen minutes after the first dose and fifteen minutes after the second dose, if needed.
    • Children and teenagers 16 years of age and younger weighing less than 40 kilograms (kg)—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is 15 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight injected into the muscles of the thighs. The dose may be repeated fifteen minutes after the first dose and fifteen minutes after the second dose, if needed.
  • For treatment of overdose of medicines used to treat myasthenia gravis:
    • Adults and teenagers—At first, 1000 to 2000 milligrams (mg) injected into a vein. Then, 250 mg is injected into a vein every five minutes.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

• Blurred or double vision
• change in near or distance vision
• difficult or rapid breathing
• difficulty in focusing the eyes
• difficulty with speaking
• dizziness
• fast, pounding, or irregular heartbeat or pulse
• muscle stiffness or weakness
• pain at the injection site (after injection into a muscle)

• Deep or fast breathing with dizziness
• numbness of the feet, hands, and around the mouth

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

• Drowsiness
• headache
• nausea

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Consult your pharmacist.

How to use Pralidoxime Solution, Reconstituted (Recon Soln)

Consult your pharmacist.

Consult your pharmacist.

In the US -

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or at www.fda.gov/medwatch.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

If someone has overdosed and has serious symptoms such as passing out or trouble breathing, call 911. Otherwise, call a poison control center right away. US residents can call their local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Canada residents can call a provincial poison control center.

Notes

Missed Dose

Consult your pharmacist.

Storage

Consult your pharmacist.

Do not flush medications down the toilet or pour them into a drain unless instructed to do so. Properly discard this product when it is expired or no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company for more details about how to safely discard your product.

Information last revised July 2016. Copyright(c) 2016 First Databank, Inc.