Reversal of experimental paralysis in a human by intranasal neostigmine aerosol suggests a novel approach to the early treatment of neurotoxic envenomation

Matthew R Lewin; Philip Bickler; Tom Heier; John Feiner; Lance Montauk; Brett Mensh

doi:10.1002/ccr3.3

Reversal of experimental paralysis in a human by intranasal neostigmine aerosol suggests a novel approach to the early treatment of neurotoxic envenomation

Clin Case Rep. 2013 Oct;1(1):7-15. doi: 10.1002/ccr3.3. Epub 2013 Jul 24.

Authors

Matthew R Lewin¹, Philip Bickler², Tom Heier², John Feiner², Lance Montauk³, Brett Mensh⁴

Affiliations

¹ Center for Exploration and Travel Health, California Academy of Sciences San Francisco, California, USA.
² Department of Anesthesia, University of California San Francisco, California, USA.
³ U.S. State Department (Ret) Berkeley, California, USA.
⁴ Janelia Farm Research Campus Ashburn, Virginia, USA.

PMID: 25356201
PMCID: PMC4184533
DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.3

Abstract

Neurotoxic snake envenomation can result in respiratory failure and death. Early treatment is considered important to survival. Inexpensive, heat-stable, needle-free, antiparalytics could facilitate early treatment of snakebite and save lives, but none have been developed. An experiment using aerosolized neostigmine to reverse paralysis suggests how early interventions could be developed.

Keywords: Anticholinesterase; emergency medicine; neurotoxin; snakebite; toxicology.