File: aabwv_01.txt
Page: 01
Total Pages: 1

DTG: 072300Z FEB 91
USCENTAF/SG # 91-FEZ-034
1 (U) WE HAVE RECEIVED MANY QUESTIONS LATELY FROM THE FIELD
CONCERNING P-TABS. THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ARE PROVIDED FOR INFORMATION AND ACTION.
2. (U) HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE PYRIDOSTIGMINE TO REACH MAXIMUM BLOOD LEVELS? PYRIDOSTIGMINE HAS A HALF LIFE OF 3 HOURS. IT TAKES FIVE HALF LIVES FOR A DRUG TO REACH STEADY STATE AND MAX BLOOD LEVELS. CONSEQUENTLY, IT SHOULD TAKE 15 HOURS FOR P-TABS TO REACH MAXIMUM BLOOD LEVELS.
3. (U) WHAT EFFECT DOES HIGH TEMPERATURE EXPOSURE HAVE ON P-TABS LIFE EXPECTANCY? TYPICALLY P-TABS HAVE SIX MONTH SHELF LIFE WHEN NOT KEPT REFRIGERATED. A RECENT TEST INDICATED THAT P-TABS CONSTANTLY EXPOSED TO 122 DEGREE TEMPERATURES FOR 16 WEEKS SHOWED NO DEGRADATION IN 95% OF THE TABS. P-TABS EXPOSED TO 140 DEGREE TEMPERATURES FOR NINE WEEKS SHOWED SIGNIFICANT DEGRADATION. A GENERAL RULE OF THUMB TO DETERMINE IF THE P-TABS ARE STILL GOOD IS TO CHECK THE COLOR OF THE TABS. IF THE TABS ARE WHITE, THEY ARE STILL GOOD. IF THE TABS ARE BEIGE OR BROWN, THEY ARE SUSPECT. TAKING OFF COLOR TABS WILL DO NO HARM BUT THEY MAY NOT BE EFFECTIVE.
4. (U) IS THERE A TOXICITY BUILDUP FORM PROLONGED USE OF P-TABS? THERE IS NO INDICATION OF TOXICITY FOUND IN PERSONNEL WHO HAD TAKEN PYRIDOSTIGMINE FOR 14 DAYS (THAT IS THE LONGEST TEST CONDUCTED) HOWEVER THERE IS LITTLE PROBABILITY OF TOXIC BUILDUP FOR LONGER PERIODS OF USE.
5. WHAT IS THE AVAILABILITY P-TABS FOR RESUPPLY? CURRENTLY, MEDSOM IS EXPECTING 50,00 CARDS FOR THE AIR FORCE ( I WEEK SUPPLY FOR 50,000 PEOPLE). NINE THOUSAND OF THE 50,000 HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.
6. (U) A WORD OF CAUTION - PERSONNEL SHOULD STOP TAKING P-TABS IF THEY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO NERVE AGENTS. THE PURPOSE OF THE P-TABS IS TO BIND 25 PERCENT OF RECEPTOR SITES. THIS DEPRIVES THE NERVE AGENT OF THOSE SITES. THOSE SITES BOUND BY THE AGENT IN THE P-TABS ARE MORE EASILY RESTORED WITH 2 PAM CHLORIDE THAN THOSE BOUND BY THE NERVE AGENT
[(b)(2)]
MINIMIZED CONSIDERED

[(b)(6)]
DONALD W. BUTTS
COL, USAF, BSC