Atracurium

Atracurium Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Food Interaction and all others data.

Atracurium antagonizes the neurotransmitter action of acetylcholine by binding competitively with cholinergic receptor sites on the motor end-plate. This antagonism is inhibited, and neuromuscular block reversed, by acetylcholinesterase inhibitors such as neostigmine, edrophonium, and pyridostigmine.

Atracurium is a nondepolarizing skeletal muscle relaxant. Atracurium can be used most advantageously if muscle twitch response to peripheral nerve stimulation is monitored to assess degree of muscle relaxation. The duration of neuromuscular block produced by Atracurium is approximately one third to one half the duration of block by d-tubocurarine, metocurine, and pancuronium at initially equipotent doses. As with other nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockers, the time to onset of paralysis decreases and the duration of maximum effect increases with increasing doses of Atracurium. Repeated administration of maintenance doses of Atracurium has no cumulative effect on the duration of neuromuscular block if recovery is allowed to begin prior to repeat dosing. Moreover, the time needed to recover from repeat doses does not change with additional doses. Repeat doses can therefore be administered at relatively regular intervals with predictable results.

Atracurium
Uses
Dosage
Side Effect
Precautions
Interactions
Uses during Pregnancy
Uses during Breastfeeding
Accute Overdose
Food Interaction
Half Life
Volume of Distribution
Clearance
Interaction With other Medicine
Contradiction
Storage

Trade Name	Atracurium
Generic	Atracurium besylate
Atracurium besylate Other Names	Atracurium besilate, Atracurium besylate, Atracurium dibesylate, Besilate d'atracurium, Besilato de atracurio
Weight	10mg/ml
Type	Injection
Formula	C₆₅H₈₂N₂O₁₈S₂
Weight	Average: 1243.49 Monoisotopic: 1242.500406156
Groups	Approved
Therapeutic Class	Non depolarizing muscle relaxants
Manufacturer	Vital Healthcare Pvt Ltd
Available Country	India, Nigeria
Last Updated:	September 19, 2023 at 7:00 am

Uses

Atracurium is used for endotracheal intubation, facilitate mechanical ventilation in intensive care, muscle relaxant in general anaesthesia.

Atracurium is also used to associated treatment for these conditions: Neuromuscular blocking therapy, Facilitation of small bowel intubation therapy

How Atracurium works

Dosage

Atracurium dosage

Adult andChild (>1 month): Initially, 300-600 mcg/kg as bolus IV, with subsequent doses of 100-200 mcg/kg by IV every 15-25 min or 5-10 mcg/kg/min by infusion in prolonged procedures. Higher infusion rate may be used in patients undergoing controlled ventilation in intensive care.

Side Effects

Skin flush, erythema, pruritus, urticaria, wheezing, increased bronchial secretions, bronchospasm, cyanosis, angioedema, CV effects (e.g. bradycardia); wheals and erythema at inj site. Potentially Fatal: Anaphylaxis.

Toxicity

Excessive doses can be expected to produce enhanced pharmacological effects. Overdosage may increase the risk of histamine release and cardiovascular effects, especially hypotension.

Precaution

Patient with CV disease, burn injury, asthma; conditions which may antagonise neuromuscular blockade (e.g. resp alkalosis, hypercalcaemia, demyelinating lesions, peripheral neuropathies, denervation, muscle trauma); conditions which may potentiate neuromuscular blockade (e.g. electrolyte abnormalities, neuromuscular diseases, metabolic acidosis, resp acidosis, Eaton-Lambert syndrome, myasthenia gravis). Pregnancy and lactation.

Interaction

Enhanced neuromuscular blocking effect w/ general anaesth (e.g. enflurane, isoflurane, halothane), certain antibiotics (e.g. aminoglycosides, polymyxins), lithium, Mg salts, procainamide, quinidine.

Food Interaction

No interactions found.

Half Life

The elimination half-life is approximately 20 minutes.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding use

Pregnancy Category C: Teratogenic Effects. Atracurium has been shown to be potentially teratogenic in rabbits when given in doses up to approximately one-half the human dose. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Atracurium should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Contraindication

Atracurium is contraindicated in patients known to be hypersensitive to atracurium, cisatracurium or benzenesulfonic acid. In common with all the other neuromuscular blocking agents, atracurium besilate paralyses the respiratory muscles as well as other skeletal muscles but has no effect on consciousness.