Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Shortage of Injectable Atropine

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists reports a shortage of injectable atropine sulfate. Military personnel are issued auto-injectors containing this drug in case of exposure to organophosphorus nerve agents such as VX, sarin, soman and tabun. Agricultural personnel who haven't taken adequate precautions are poisoned by tetraethyl pyrophosphate and parathione. Coumaphos, chlorpyrifos and trichlorfon are animal insecticides to which humans may be exposed. Accidental poisonings occur in households using malathione, diazinon and dichlorovos.

In preparation for probable drug shortages in the event of a chemical terror attack, the New York City Poison Control Center tested the stability of injectable atropine sulfate that was past its expiration date, using samples that had been stored as long ago as World War II. "Significant amounts of atropine were found in all study samples."

No comments: