A patient may present with a history suggestive of an exposure to an organophosphorus or carbamate pesticide, but the diagnosis may not be certain. A trial dose of atropine can help exclude the diagnosis of cholinergic poisoning.
Trial dose: 0.6 to 1.0 mg of atropine injected IV through an IV drip.
Findings indicating that cholinergic poisoning is not present:
(1) increase in heart rate >= 20 beats per minute
(2) flushing of the skin
If these findings are present then the person is unlikely to have cholinergic poisoning and additional atropine is not necessary.
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