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                                     Appendix     E
                                Use   of pyri~o~tig~~'x1e. B.i;..~~.tde

                  In 1985, TAO initiated the grou~d testitig of all airc~~~s. with
;~~\~~~  P~~~t~n~~~n bromide. Reported side. effects were so low (<1%) that ~-ig
                       1~. Durin Operation Desert Storm, some units ~           `4
         begin    doiti   no         prophylaxiS. The foliQwing re~~ ~t* pro. vid ed
                                  from a questionnaire he prepared and distri~b~ted. &~ a
         ~~ployed Wing.
                  ~estionnaires distributed = l5SItreturned 1O~~ (ret~~ ~te 68%)

         Findi~ngs
                  Compliance ~as poor  only 9.5% completed the ~II directed ~`xr~e of 7
         day&   61% had quit the prophylaxis after three days.  5.7* did ~wt begin
         prophylaxis:
                  -Side effects were prevalent in an ancontrO~ed *ssew~efl.t  (6.2%
         raported ao~e side effects)

                    Headaches                       8%
                    Ras~                            2%
                    sQninolence                     5%
                    Weakness                        5%
                    sa';ivat~oniTearw~g
                    Bloated stomach                 6%
                    i~elly crarflpS                 10%
                    Loose bowel movements           1s%
                                                    9%
                    Two or more atoolsIday          4%
                    Muscle cr~p# 0rtwitching

                  -The mQst common aide ~ct5 wOr' gas~oin~St~al --40%
                  p~doetigxx~ine side eft~~ had ao adver*e ~~~~ on ~q mi~i0.n -~
         100% said no missions were ~~nceUod a~. to side e~CtL
                  -Side effects were a significant but not predominant ~aso; ~
         ~~~ca.* of the 91% who stoppod prophylanS. bef~re author~'.* 36.5% stated
         side effects were the reason

         In a leoforinal report' an Fle wing SME ettimated only 20%.        0.
             order to take pyridosti~ anw:1g pilots. Of those, 3O~4Q~ co~~Od Q~
         s;do effects (abdo;in;i cr';Ping.~an'~. ~us~). Thoce w~ did not c4ZflplY ~~
         ~~ncerta1.nty about a strange m~dica~on and the apparent low threat Of ~~~i~C*..~
         ~t~ct as ret~S0n5


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