What is the antidote for pyridostigmine?

Pyridostigmine is an anticholinesterase medication that is primarily used to treat myasthenia gravis by inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, which results in increased levels of acetylcholine at neuromuscular junctions. In cases of an overdose, or when there is excessive cholinergic activity, symptoms can include muscle twitching, increased salivation, diarrhea, and bradycardia.

Atropine serves as the antidote in such situations because it is an anticholinergic drug that can counteract the excessive effects of acetylcholine. By blocking the action of acetylcholine at muscarinic receptors, atropine can alleviate the symptoms of cholinergic toxicity, particularly the unwanted effects on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

The other choices do not serve as antidotes for pyridostigmine overdose. Edrophonium is another anticholinesterase inhibitor used primarily for diagnostic purposes in myasthenia gravis and would further exacerbate the effects of pyridostigmine, rather than counteracting them. Glatiramer acetate and interferon beta-1a are medications used in multiple sclerosis and do not have any relation to the treatment of cholinergic crises