Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a hospital or clinic. You may also be taught how to give your medicine at home. This medicine 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.

This medicine 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 this medicine. 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 this medicine 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 this medicine. 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.

Portions of this document last updated: Feb. 01, 2024

Copyright: © Merative US L.P. 1973, 2024. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.