Reversal of experimental paralysis in a human by intranasal neostigmine aerosol suggests a novel approach to the early treatment of neurotoxic envenomation.

Neurotoxic snake envenomation can result in respiratory failure and death. Early treatment is considered important to survival. Inexpensive, heat-stable, needle-free, antiparalytics could facilitate early treatment of snakebite and save lives, but none have been developed. An experiment using aerosolized neostigmine to reverse paralysis suggests how early interventions could be developed.