Rapacuronium is used in general anesthesia for the relaxation of the skeletal muscles and to facilitate tracheal intubation.
What is Rapacuronium?
Rapacuronium is a muscle relaxant drug, or more precisely defined as "competitive non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocker of steroid type". Also known as "competitive neuromuscular blocker", the competitive non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking drugs act on the peripheral nervous system, interrupting the neuromuscular transmission by competing with the activity of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, and thus reducing the response of acetylcholine receptors released after nervous impulses.
In turn, the non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents are chemically divided into two categories: steroids (Rocuronium, Rapacuronium, Pipecuronium, Pancuronium, Vecuronium) and isoquinoline derivatives (tubocurarine, doxacurium, atracurium, cisatracurium, mivacurium).
The Rapacuronium is the only one of the non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents that is able to combine a rapid onset of action similar to that of succinylcholine (drug progenitor of depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents) and short duration of intermediate action, similar to the one that characterizes the mivacurium.
How should Rapacuronium be taken?
The Rapacuronium is commercially available in the form of a solution for intravenous injections (bolus injection or continuous infusion).
Side effects associated with Rapacuronium
The main side effects of rapacuronium are bronchospasm in adults, tachycardia in children, and hypotension in the elderly. Among other adverse effects associated with Rapacuronium are included:
- General disorders: allergic reactions;
- Cardiovascular disorders: hypotension, hypertension, tachycardia, and bradycardia;
- Respiratory disorders: respiratory difficulties, bronchospasm, laryngospasm, and asthma;
- Musculoskeletal disorders: muscle weakness;
- Dermatological disorders: rash, urticaria , reactions at the injection site
Contraindications and warnings associated with the use of Rapacuronium
Particular care should be taken when administering this drug to patients with known or suspected hypersensitivity to the product. Moreover, this drug should only be administered by experienced staff.
Similar to all other neuromuscular blocking agents, the dosage of Rapacuronium should be individualized for each patient. Finally, the use of rapacuronium in pregnant and lactating women is permitted only if the physician determines that the benefits to the mother outweigh any health risks to the child's health.
