Reversal of pancuronium with edrophonium

Edrophonium was administered as a bolus of 2, 10 or 50 mg (0.03, 0.14 and 0.71 mg/kg) to antagonize neuromuscular block after pancuronium in man. Neuromuscular transmission was measured using "train-of-four" stimulation. Recovery started within 1 min, was maximum at 2 min and was then followed by a plateau of slow continued improvement. The degree of recovery increased with larger doses of edrophonium and also was related to the total amount of pancuronium administered although reversal was attempted at the same degree of spontaneous recovery. There was no evidence of recurarisation or depolarising block.