Organophosphates are used as insecticides,medications and nerve agents.These compounds are widely used as pesticides which cause great hazards to human health.Some people consume these hazardous compounds with intend to do suicide.
Organophosphates are cholinergic drugs (irreversible anti cholinesterase drug).
Cholinesterase enzyme is responsible for the metabolism of acetyl choline.So basically these organophosphorus compounds when taken in high dosage irreversibly stops the function of cholinesterase enzyme which causes increase in Acetyl choline amount and activity in the body.
Now this increased acetyl choline causes the problem in body like,
•On Heart – HR decreases,BP decreases
•On GIT– Peristalsis increased causing loose motions, Diarrhea,nausea
•On Eye– Miosis occurs (Pin point pupil) causing blurred vision
•On Nose– Runny nose
•On Salivary gland – Excessive salivation
(As we know the ach. Is prosecretory and so increases the secretions from body)
•On Muscle– Initially muscle fasciculations occurs and then muscle paralysis occurs.
Symptoms of Organophosphate poisoning:-
As they are causing increase in ach level so all the problems due to increased ach in body will occur,which are already mentioned above.
Treatment of Organophosphate poisoning:-
To treat poisoning we need anti Cholinergic drug which will remove the acetyl choline from muscarinic and nicotinic receptors so that no problem due to this increased ach could occur now.
So Atropine is the anti Cholinergic drug which is being used.
Atropine works on muscarinic receptors of the body and remove the acetyl choline from the body so all the symptoms are being treated.As we know that atropine only actson muscarinic receptors and not on nicotinic receptors so effects due to increased ach on muscle will not be treated.
To treat muscular effects due to Organophosphate poisoning we use Pralidoxime.
Pralidoxime is another Anticholinergic drug.It reacts with Organophosphate and forms oximophosphates. So, the Organophosphate is removed from nicotinic receptor as well and the muscular paralysis will also be treated.
So both Atropine and Pralidoxime may be used as one of the treatment for Organophosphate poisoning.
Contributor- Medico Anant Singh Nanda
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