Physostigmine is a cholinesterase inhibitor used to treat glaucoma and anticholinergic toxicity. A cholinesterase inhibitor that is rapidly absorbed through membranes.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed
Physostigmine inhibits acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme responsible for the breakdown of used acetylcholine. By interfering with the metabolism of acetylcholine, physostigmine indirectly stimulates both nicotinic and muscarinic receptors due to the consequential increase in available acetylcholine at the synapse.
- Primary indication
- For the treatment of glaucoma, and in the treatment of severe anticholinergic toxicity.Curator reviewed · 2 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C15H21N3O2 · 275.3461 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 1975
- Also known as
- Eserine · Physostol
- Code names
- MCV-4484 · NIH 10421
Resolves to
Clinical / RWD
Structure
InChIKey
PIJVFDBKTWXHHD-HIFRSBDPSA-NSMILES[H][C@]12N(C)CC[C@@]1(C)C1=C(C=CC(OC(=O)NC)=C1)N2CWhat you can answer from here — as of September 23, 2026
3Protein targetsEach mapped to UniProt, with action and pharmacological actionListed above
Which drugs share a target with Physostigmine, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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