Performance effects of chemical warfare antidotes: A perspective
The threat that enemy forces may use chemical warfare against United States military troops has caused the medical research and development community to find effective antidotes. Particularly in the case of nerve agent poisoning, the timely use of antidote therapies represents the key to survival in contaminated environments. Current training doctrine instructs soldiers how to recognize the symptoms of nerve agent exposure, and then how to counteract the life-threatening effects with the administration of atropine sulfate and pralidoxime chloride. However, these compounds can produce performance degrading effects on their own even when no chemical agent is present. Particularly in the case of the aviator, who is expected to exercise very precise control over an inherently complex vehicle such as a helicopter, the impact of self-administered antidotes should be fully appreciated. The present review briefly summarizes what is known about the actions and performance effects of both atropine and pralidoxime chloride, and recommendations are made concerning the need for additional research.
- Research Organization:
- Army Aeromedical Research Lab., Fort Rucker, AL (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 6903200
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A-255219/8/XAB; USAARL--92-26
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
450600* -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense-- Chemical & Biological-- (1990)
ALKALOIDS
ATROPINE
AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENTS
DRUGS
NERVES
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARASYMPATHOLYTICS
TOXICITY
WEAPONS