Atracurium

• Atracurium is used to relax muscles and to help in the insertion of a breathing tube and with artificial breathing during surgery.
• It is also used to help patients in intensive care (ICU) with artificial breathing.

When should one not use Atracurium

Common side effects of this drug are:

• Rashes
• Itching
• Redness of skin
• Wheezing

Other General Warnings

• You are pregnant or breastfeeding.
• You had allergic reactions to other muscle relaxants (e.g. curares) in the past.
• You have heart or blood circulation problems.
• You have lung disorders or a history of allergy or asthma.
• You suffer from conditions like myasthenia gravis, Eaton-Lambert syndrome or other neuromuscular diseases.
• You have severe electrolyte imbalances (unusual levels of ions such as sodium, potassium or chloride in your blood).
• You are suffering from burns.

How Does It Work?

Interactions with other medicines

• Some medicines can affect the way Atracurium works or this medicine itself can reduce the effectiveness of other medicines taken at the same time.
• Tell your doctor about all medicines, supplements or herbals you are currently taking or might take to avoid any possible interaction.
• Particular care should be taken if you are taking antibiotics like aminoglycosides, polymyxins, spectinomycin, tetracyclines, lincomycin, clindamycin and vancomycin (used for treating bacterial infections), antiarrhythmic medicines like lidocaine, procainamide, quinidine (used to control abnormal/irregular rhythm of the heart), diuretics like furosemide, thiazides, acetazolamide, mannitol (used to reduce fluid accumulation), medicines used to control blood pressure or heart-related chest pain or other heart problems (like propranolol, oxprenolol, diltiazem, nicardipine, nifedipine, trimethaphan, hexamethonium and verapamil), antiepileptic medicines like carbamazepine, phenytoin (used for the treatment of fits/seizures), medicines used to treat rheumatism (chloroquine, d-penicillamine), corticosteroids (used to treat allergic emergencies, severe asthma and septic shock), inhalation anaesthetics like isoflurane, desflurane, sevoflurane (medicines to put you to sleep), dantrolene and ketamine (used in anaesthesia), magnesium sulphate (used to treat seizure and a complication of pregnancy called pre-eclampsia in pregnant women and some heart problems), lithium (used to treat mental disorders), quinine (used to treat malaria and leg cramps) and chlorpromazine (used to treat some psychiatric disorders and nausea).

Overdose

Missed a Dose