Mestinon high dose long term
 

Anyone know if there are any concerns with taking mestinon high doses (540 mg per day) long term (forever)?

Thats exactly the dosage Im taking, but I have an appointment soon and Im going to ask if I can try that other one, thats 180 mg but it gives is more slowly. So that would be 6x 90 + 180 mg a day.

I had no idea this is considered a high dose?

Anyway, as far as I know, there is no problem in taking a high dose of mestinon on long term. I know a woman who takes over 800 mg everyday, for over 30 (maybe even 40 or longer) years now. And it still works the same for her, no problems whatsoever.

Awesome, thanks. By the way I take 6x60 plus the 180 at bedtime

I thought High dose based on some other members comments about taking 30 or 60 mg p day. I think but don't know, max dose per day is 1000? Maybe someone else could comment on that

My doctor says 6x60 + 180 Timespan is the maximum you should take.

I don't take mestinon, but have a friend who's had MG for almost 30 years, and she was told that using high dose for extended periods will destroy some of the acetylcholine receptors. Over time, that could cause more muscle damage and weakness.

In my opinion, if you're needing that much mestinon, an additional med might need to be considered, as that dosage is not indicative of well controlled symptoms. In addition, when you get dosages that high, the risk of overdosing does increase.

Hope this helps (and doesn't scare.)

The Mestinon prescribing information suggests that 10 pills a day is typical.

"The average dose is ten 60 mg tablets or ten 5 mL teaspoonfuls daily, spaced to provide maximum relief when maximum strength is needed. In severe cases as many as 25 tablets or teaspoonfuls a day may be required, while in mild cases one to six tablets or teaspoonfuls a day may suffice."


http://www.mestinon.com/Portals/25/P...g_PI_May01.pdf

http://www.mestinon.com/

Steph, This is an older post but I'll answer anyway. ;)

I've taken Mestinon at 90 - 100 mg. every 3 hours round the clock for years now. I honestly haven't noticed any ill effects.

One study done by Dr. James Howard shows that Mestinon does in fact suppress the humoral immune system that produces antibodies.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2540433

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15106728

I haven't read anything about Mestinon destroying the acetylcholine receptors. I can imagine that flooding the neuromuscular junction due to taking too much Mestinon - often causing a cholinergic crisis - might do some damage but I can't offhand think of a study for you.

Go to PubMed and dig around. You might have to put in "Pyridostigmine Bromide damage" or something like that. What you might get are articles on Gulf War syndrome.

Annie

I like this site.
http://www.askapatient.com/viewratin...&name=MESTINON

Would taking mestinon possibly mess up the anti-MUSK test?