Edrophonium, Injection ed-roh-FOH-nee-um

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: cholinergic agonist; antimyasthenic

Generic and brand names: edrophonium, injection; Enlon

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection (shots) to diagnose myasthenia gravis, a disease that causes muscle weakness. It may also be used to reverse the effects of some medicines used to relax your muscles during surgery. It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine or to latex
• asthma
• heart problems such as an irregular or slow heartbeat
• seizures
• thyroid problems
• intestinal obstruction
• kidney disease
• Parkinson's disease
• ulcers
• trouble urinating

Females of childbearing age: Talk with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Your healthcare provider will give you these shots.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may cause blurred vision, dizziness, or drowsiness. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert and can see clearly.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Severe nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, slow or irregular heartbeat, severe abdominal pain, slurred speech.

Other: Blurred vision, dizziness, drowsiness, increased sweating, increased urination, weakness, muscle twitches, muscle cramps, increased drooling, increased tearing (watery eyes).

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• anesthetics
• antiarrhythmics (medicines to treat irregular heartbeat) such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone) disopyramide, procainamide, and quinidine
• antibiotics such as amikacin, gentamicin, and tobramycin
• anticholinergic medicines such as atropine sulfate, benztropine (Cogentin), dicyclomine (Bentyl), hyoscyamine (Levsin, Levsinex), methscopolamine (Pamine), propantheline (Pro-Banthine), and trihexyphenidyl (Artane)
• antihistamines such as chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), hydroxyzine (Vistaril), and meclizine (Antivert, Dramamine)
• atropine
• beta blockers such as acebutolol (Sectral), atenolol (Tenormin), carvedilol (Coreg), labetalol (Trandate), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard), pindolol, propranolol (Inderal LA), and sotalol (Betapace)
• corticosteroids such as betamethasone (Celestone), cortisone, dexamethasone, fludrocortisone (Florinef), hydrocortisone (Cortef), methylprednisolone (Medrol), prednisolone (Orapred), prednisone, and triamcinolone (Aristospan, Kenalog)
• digoxin (Digitek, Lanoxin, Lanoxicaps)
• mecamylamine (Inversine)
• other medicines to treat myasthenia gravis
• repaglinide (Prandin) and repaglinide/metformin (PrandiMet)

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.