Archive for the ‘Myasthenia Gravis Drug’ Category
Myasthenia gravis and treatment with Mestinon
Mestinon is an oral medication which is used in treatment of certain muscle diseases, most notably myasthenia gravis. This condition is caused by compromised functioning of a natural substance called acetylcholine. Mestinon prevents the breakdown of this substance and thus alleviates the symptoms of myasthenia gravis.
Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder which is caused by certain antibodies which block acetylcholine receptors. This causes myasthenia gravis and its symptoms. The most noticeable symptoms of myasthenia gravis and the first ones to appear is the weakness of the muscles which control eye and eyelid movements. In some cases, the first muscles to be affected are muscles which control swallowing and speech. Slurred speech and difficulties swallowing are among the most common symptoms. In the most severe cases, the muscles which control breathing are also affected and this causes serious impairment which prevents normal breathing. Other muscles that can be affected by myasthenia gravis include muscles in the arms, legs, fingers, hands and neck. One of the most serious complications that can occur in patients suffering from myasthenia gravis is the so called myasthenic crisis, which is in fact a paralysis of the muscles that control breathing. In such cases, it is necessary to introduce assisted ventilation in order to keep the patient alive.
There are a few other uses for Mestinon, although they are much rarer. One of them is in treatment of orthostatic hypertension, or low blood pressure which is caused by caused by sudden standing up. Mestinon is also approved for military use, as an agent that is supposed to be administered prior to being exposed to a nerve agent called Soman.
Details about Mestinon treatment
It is of utmost importance that you are as forthcoming as possible when it comes to sharing your medical history with your doctor. This is the only way that they can be sure Mestinon treatment will not pose a risk to your health. There are certain conditions that will prevent you from using Mestinon as the risks outweigh the potential benefits. These conditions include allergy to this type of medications, intestinal blockage and urinary blockage. In addition to these, some conditions may be adversely affected by Mestinon and your doctor needs to be aware of the fact that you are suffering from them. They include lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, kidney disease or irregular heartbeat, diabetes, liver disease or if you are addicted to alcohol. If you are scheduled for surgery, you need to tell the surgeon that you are taking Mestinon, as you will most likely be told to stop using it for a period of time prior to your surgery.
If you have any questions concerning your prescribed regimen or anything else that has to do with your Mestinon treatment, you must not hesitate to ask your doctor or the pharmacist. Also, keep in mind that you should make no changes to your treatment without first consulting your doctor who is the only one who can decide to make changes to the treatment.