Decamethonium
Decamethonium Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Food Interaction and all others data.
Decamethonium is used in anesthesia to cause paralysis. It is a short acting depolarizing muscle relaxant. It is similar to acetylcholine and acts as a partial agonist of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor.
Decamethonium acts as a depolarizing muscle relaxant or neuromuscular blocking agent. It acts as an agonist of nicotinic acetycholine receptors in the motor endplate and causes depolarization. This class of drugs has its effect at the neuromuscular junction by preventing the effects of acetylcholine. Normally, when a nerve stimulus acts to contract a muscle, it releases acetylcholine. The binding of this acetylcholine to receptors causes the muscle to contract. Muscle relaxants play an important role in anesthesia even though they don't provide any pain relief or produce unconsciousness.
| Trade Name | Decamethonium |
| Generic | Decamethonium |
| Decamethonium Other Names | Decamethonium, Decamethonium ion, Decamethonum |
| Type | |
| Formula | C16H38N2 |
| Weight | Average: 258.4863 Monoisotopic: 258.303499226 |
| Groups | Approved |
| Therapeutic Class | |
| Manufacturer | |
| Available Country | |
| Last Updated: | September 19, 2023 at 7:00 am |
Uses
For use as a skeletal muscle relaxant
How Decamethonium works
Binds to the nicotinic acetycholine receptors (by virtue of its similarity to acetylcholine) in the motor endplate and blocks access to the receptors. In the process of binding, the receptor is actually activated - causing a process known as depolarization. Since it is not degraded in the neuromuscular junction, the depolarized membrance remains depolarized and unresponsive to any other impulse, causing muscle paralysis.
Toxicity
LD50=190 mg/kg (orally in mice). Prolonged apnoea, neuromuscular paralysis and cardiac arrest may occur.
Elimination Route
Rapidly absorbed.
Innovators Monograph
You find simplified version here Decamethonium
