Comparison of atropine and glycopyrrolate in a mixture with pyridostigmine for the antagonism of neuromuscular block.

Neuromuscular block was antagonized using pyridostigmine 250 micrograms kg-1 in two groups of 50 patients; one group received atropine 20 micrograms kg-1 and the other glycopyrrolate 10 micrograms kg-1 with the anticholinesterase drug. Atropine was associated with a greater initial tachycardia than was glycopyrrolate. The subsequent bradycardia was also greater in this group, although the decreases in heart rate were smaller than those generally observed following mixtures of atropine and neostigmine. Arrhythmias were transient and required no treatment in either group. Better control of secretions was achieved with glycopyrrolate.