Final answer:
Physostigmine is used to treat poisoning by inhibiting the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, thereby increasing acetylcholine levels. It is applied in combination with atropine and pralidoxime chloride in cases of nerve agent poisoning to manage symptoms and reactivate the acetylcholinesterase enzyme.
Step-by-step explanation:
Physostigmine is a parasympathomimetic, specifically a reversible cholinesterase inhibitor, which effectively increases the concentration of acetylcholine at nerve endings. This can help to control the effects of excessive acetylcholine in the body due to organophosphate poisoning. Organophosphates are dangerous because they inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase, leading to an accumulation of acetylcholine, resulting in continuous muscle contractions.
As both the central and peripheral nervous systems are affected by this toxin, standard treatment for nerve agent poisoning includes the use of an anticholinergic like atropine to manage symptoms by reducing the effects of acetylcholine. Additionally, an oxime, such as pralidoxime chloride (2-PAMCI), is used to counteract the poison itself by reactivating acetylcholinesterase enzyme.
In cases of hyperthermia as a result of nerve agent poisoning, controlling body temperature can be crucial since it represents the body's extreme response to the flooding of acetylcholine. While not directly implied in the context, Physostigmine can sometimes be mentioned with a view to addressing cholinergic crisis, a condition that might involve hyperthermic symptoms.