Suxamethonium Succinylcholine Chloride Injection is used in anaesthesia as a skeletal muscle relaxant to facilitate tracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation surgical procedures.
Suxamethonium chloride, also known as suxamethonium or succinylcholine, is a medication used to cause short-term paralysis as part of general anesthesia. This is done to help with tracheal intubation or electroconvulsive therapy. It is administered by injection, either into a vein or into a muscle1. When used intravenously, the onset of action is generally within one minute, and the effects last for up to 10 minutes1. Common side effects include low blood pressure, increased saliva production, muscle pain, and rash. Serious side effects may include malignant hyperthermia, hyperkalemia, and allergic reactions1. It is not recommended for people at risk of high blood potassium or with a history of myopathy1. Suxamethonium is classified as a neuromuscular blocker of the depolarizing type. It works by blocking the action of acetylcholine on skeletal muscles1. The medication was described as early as 1906 and came into medical use in 1951. It is included in the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines1. Suxamethonium is available as a generic medication1.