CARBAMATE TOXICITY

Course overview

CARBAMATES ARE A CLASS OF INSECTICIDES STRUCTURALLY AND MECHANISTICALLY SIMILAR TO ORGANOPHOSPHATE (OP) INSECTICIDES. CARBAMATES ARE N-METHYL CARBAMATES DERIVED FROM A CARBAMIC ACID AND CAUSE CARBAMYLATION OF ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE AT NEURONAL SYNAPSES AND NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTIONS. WHILE THEY POSSESS A SIMILAR MECHANISM OF ACTION TO THE IRREVERSIBLE PHOSPHORYLATION OF ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE BY ORGANOPHOSPHATES, CARBAMATES BIND TO ACETYLCHOLINESTERASE REVERSIBLY. SUBSEQUENTLY, CARBAMATES HAVE A SIMILAR TOXICOLOGICAL PRESENTATION TO OP POISONINGS WITH A DURATION OF TOXICITY THAT IS TYPICALLY LESS THAN 24 HOURS. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS CARBAMATE TOXICITY AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ITS MANAGEMENT.