Edrofonio cloruro [DCIT]

Antidote (to curare principles); diagnostic aid (myasthenia gravis).

ChEBI: N-Ethyl-N,N-dimethylanilinium in which one of the meta positions is substituted by a hydroxy group. It is a reversible inhibitor of cholinesterase, with a rapid onset (30-60 seconds afte injection) but a short duration of action (5-15 minutes). The chloride salt is used in myasthenia gravis both diagnostically and to distinguish between under- or over-treatment with other anticholinesterases. It has also been used for the reversal of neur muscular blockade in anaesthesia, and for the management of poisoning due to tetrodotoxin, a neuromuscular blocking toxin found in puffer fish and other marine animals.

Enlon (Baxter Healthcare); Reversol (Organon); Tensilon (Valeant).