Pyridostigmine bromide and the long-term subjective health status

Psychol Rep. 2002 Jun;90(3 Pt 1):707-21.
Pyridostigmine bromide and the long-term subjective health status of a sample of over 700 male Reserve Component Gulf War era veterans.

Schumm WR, Reppert EJ, Jurich AP, Bollman SR, Webb FJ, Castelo CS, Stever JC, Kaufman M, Deng LY, Krehbiel M, Owens BL, Hall CA, Brown BF, Lash JF, Fink CJ, Crow JR, Bonjour GN.

School of Family Studies and Human Services, Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506-1403, USA. schumm@humec.ksu.edu

Data from a 1996-1997 survey of approximately 700 Reserve Component male veterans indicate that the consumption of pyridostigmine bromide pills, used as a pretreatment for potential exposure to the nerve agent Soman, was a significant predictor of declines in reported subjective health status after the war, even after controlling for a number of other possible factors. Reported reactions to vaccines and other medications also predicted declines in subjective health. While higher military rank generally predicted better health during and after the war, educational attainment, minority status, number of days in theater, and age generally did not predict changes in subjective health. Although servicemembers were directed to take three pills a day, veterans reported a range of compliance--less than a fourth (24%) followed the medical instructions compared to 61% who took fewer than three pills daily and 6% who took six or more pills a day. Implications for use of pyridostigmine bromide are discussed.

PMID: 12090498 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]