Before taking Mestinon 60mg or any medication, it is essential to consult with a healthcare professional to understand the appropriate use for your specific condition. This information is for general knowledge and should not replace medical advice.
Mestinon (pyridostigmine bromide) is a medication that helps manage the symptoms of myasthenia gravis by improving communication between nerves and muscles. The 60mg immediate-release tablets are designed to act relatively quickly, with an onset of action typically within 30 to 60 minutes, and a duration of effect lasting about 3 to 4 hours. This rapid action and relatively short duration mean that timing your administration correctly is crucial for controlling your symptoms throughout the day.
Timing your administration for maximum benefit
For most individuals, the effects of myasthenia gravis, such as muscle weakness and fatigue, fluctuate throughout the day. An effective Mestinon regimen involves scheduling administration to coincide with your most demanding activities.
Planning Around Daily Activities
- Morning administration: Consider administering your first amount upon waking or about 30 to 60 minutes before breakfast. This may help manage symptoms like difficulty chewing and swallowing, which are often at their worst in the morning.
- Mealtime administration: If you have trouble chewing or swallowing, schedule administration about 30 to 45 minutes before each meal. This aims for the medication to have taken effect when your muscles are most needed for eating.
- Spaced throughout the day: Your doctor will likely recommend administration multiple times per day, typically at intervals that align with the medication's duration of effect. This helps maintain a consistent level of medication in your system.
- Bedtime administration: For some, a final administration before bed can help manage nocturnal weakness. A longer-acting form, like Mestinon Timespan, might also be used in combination with 60mg tablets to provide better overnight coverage.
Taking Mestinon with or without food
Most medical sources state that Mestinon can be taken with or without food. However, taking it with food may help mitigate some of the common gastrointestinal side effects.
Food Considerations
- To reduce stomach upset: If you experience nausea, abdominal cramps, or other stomach issues, taking your dose with a snack or a meal may help.
- Timing with meals for swallowing: As mentioned, administering the dose before eating is important if you experience weakness related to chewing and swallowing.
- Taking with or without food: The flexibility of taking Mestinon with or without food allows you to adjust based on your personal tolerance and daily schedule.
What to do if you miss administration
Missing administration can cause your symptoms to return or worsen, so it's important to have a plan for managing missed doses.
- If you remember soon after: Administer the missed amount as soon as you remember.
- If it's close to the next administration time: Skip the missed amount and administer your next amount at its regularly scheduled time.
- Do not double up: Never administer a double amount to make up for a missed one, as this can increase your risk of side effects.
- Consult your doctor: If you frequently miss administration times, speak with your doctor or pharmacist to re-evaluate your schedule.
Managing common side effects
Like many medications, Mestinon has potential side effects, especially those related to overstimulation of nerve receptors. The most common are muscarinic (related to nerves) and typically involve the digestive system.
- Gastrointestinal issues: Nausea, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and increased saliva are common when starting or adjusting the amount. Taking the medication with food may help. If these effects persist, your doctor might adjust the amount or prescribe an additional medication to help.
- Muscle twitching or cramps: Known as fasciculations, these are a nicotinic side effect. An adjustment to the amount might be needed if they become bothersome.
- Sweating and tears: Increased salivation and sweating are also possible.
Table of Mestinon 60mg vs. Mestinon Timespan
| Feature | Mestinon 60mg (Immediate Release) | Mestinon Timespan 180mg (Extended Release) |
|---|---|---|
| Onset of Action | 30–60 minutes | Slower than immediate-release tablets |
| Duration of Action | Approximately 3–4 hours | Averages 2.5 times longer than an immediate-release dose |
| Form | Oral tablet, scored for splitting if advised | Oral tablet, not for crushing, chewing, or splitting unless scored |
| Purpose | Used multiple times per day for consistent relief during waking hours | Often used once or twice daily, sometimes at bedtime, for prolonged effect |
| Flexibility | Highly flexible for timing with activities and meals | Less flexible; designed for longer-term, sustained relief |
When to contact your doctor
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience severe muscle weakness, trouble breathing, or other signs of cholinergic crisis, which can result from excessive administration. It's crucial to differentiate this from a myasthenic crisis (worsening disease), as the treatments are opposite. Your doctor or pharmacist can provide guidance on potential drug interactions with other medications, such as certain antibiotics or heart medicines. Bausch Health provides the official prescribing information for Mestinon to help ensure proper use.
Conclusion
Understanding how to properly take Mestinon 60mg is essential for effectively managing the symptoms of myasthenia gravis and minimizing side effects. By coordinating your medication schedule with your daily routine and meals, you may help ensure the medication works when needed most. Close communication with your doctor is vital for finding the right administration amount and for addressing any side effects or worsening symptoms. Always adhere to your prescribed regimen and never adjust the amount you administer without medical advice.
