Question:easy

In organophosphate (OP) poisoning, which drug reverses the inhibited activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE)?

Show Hint

Think of the oxime that cleaves the OP-enzyme bond, not the muscarinic blocker.
Updated On: Jun 25, 2026
  • Atropine
  • Pralidoxime
  • Flumazenil
  • Naloxone
Show Solution

The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Organophosphate compounds covalently phosphorylate acetylcholinesterase, abolishing acetylcholine hydrolysis and flooding cholinergic synapses. Management has two prongs: symptomatic control with atropine (a muscarinic antagonist that dries secretions and corrects bradycardia) and causal reversal of the enzyme block.

Enzyme reactivation is achieved only by an oxime. $Pralidoxime$ carries a quaternary nitrogen that aligns it near the anionic site and a nucleophilic oxime group that attacks the phosphorus, regenerating free, functional AChE:
\[ \text{Inhibited AChE-P} + \text{2-PAM} \rightarrow \text{Active AChE} + \text{Phosphorylated oxime} \]
This particularly rescues nicotinic (muscle weakness, fasciculations) signs that atropine cannot touch. Efficacy falls once the phosphoryl-enzyme complex "ages."

Flumazenil (benzodiazepine antagonist) and naloxone (opioid antagonist) act on unrelated receptors and have no role here.

\[\boxed{\text{Pralidoxime}}\]
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