Myasthenia Gravis

Question 1

Myasthenia Gravis

Answer 1

• characterized by fluctuating muscle weakness and predisposition to rapid fatigue
• common symptoms include ptosis, dysphagia, and weakness of skeletal muscles
• an autoimmune process in which antibodies attack nicotinic m receptors on skeletal muscles

Question 2

Drugs used to treat Myasthenia Gravis

Answer 2

• Myasthenia gravis is treated with cholinesterase inhibitors, which are considered partial cholinergic antagonists
• the reason for this is that cholinesterase inhibitors greatly increase skeletal muscle activity and strength
• side effects include excessive muscarininc response due to the overabundance of acetylcholine
• most common cholinesterase inhibitor is Neostigmine (Prostigmin)

Question 3

Myasthenia Gravis Medication Dosage

Answer 3

• start small and adjust to patient response
• in anticipation of exertion, modify dosage
• signs of undermedication include ptosis which is difficulty in swallowing
• signs of overmedication include excessive salivation and other muscarinic responses

Question 4

Antidote for Cholinesterase Inhibitors

Answer 4

because cholinesterase inhibitors act like muscanaric agonists, the antidote in case of overdose is a muscanaric antagonist like atropine