Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow E-Letters: Submit a response to the article
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Search for citing articles in:
ISI Web of Science (192)
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by HUGHES, R.
Right arrow Articles by CHAPPLE, D. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by HUGHES, R.
Right arrow Articles by CHAPPLE, D. J.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

British Journal of Anaesthesia, 1981, Vol. 53, No. 1 31-44
© 1981 The Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia

research-article

THE PHARMACOLOGY OF ATRACURIUM: A NEW COMPETITIVE NEUROMUSCULAR BLOCKING AGENT

R. HUGHES, B.SC., M.SC., PH.D. and D. J. CHAPPLE, B.SC.

Department of Pharmacology, The Wellcome Research Laboratories, Langley Court Beckenham, Kent

Atracurium besylate, 2,2'-(3,11-dioxo-4,10-dioxatridecylene)-bis-[6,7-dimethoxy-1-(3,4-dimethoxy-benzyl)-2-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolinium] dibenzenesulphonatc, is one of a new series of competitive neuromuscular blocking agents. An i.v. dose of 0.25 mg kg–1 produced complete paralysis in anaesthetized cats, dogs and rhesus monkeys; paralysis was of medium duration and was readily antagonized by neostigmine. Vagal blockade occurred only after doses 8–16 times greater than the full neuromuscular paralysing dose and effects on sympathetic mechanisms were minimal. Hypotension and bradycardia were evident after supramaximal doses of 4 mg kg–1i.v. and these effects, together with circulatory depression, were probably attributable to histamine release. In vitro studies have shown that the non-enzymic decomposition of atracurium by "Hofmann Elimination" was enhanced by increasing pH. In vivo neuromuscular paralysis was significantly reduced when the arterial pH was increased. There were indications that neither the liver nor the kidney plays a major role in the metabolism and elimination of unchanged drug. These results are of sufficient interest to merit the evaluation of atracurium in anaesthetized man.


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Br J AnaesthHome page
F. C. Vasella, P. Frascarolo, D. R. Spahn, and L. Magnusson
Antagonism of neuromuscular blockade but not muscle relaxation affects depth of anaesthesia
Br. J. Anaesth., June 1, 2005; 94(6): 742 - 747.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Pharmacol. Rev.Home page
J. H. Lin and A. Y. H. Lu
Role of Pharmacokinetics and Metabolism in Drug Discovery and Development
Pharmacol. Rev., December 1, 1997; 49(4): 403 - 449.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 NEJMHome page
R. A. Wiklund and S. H. Rosenbaum
Anesthesiology- First of Two Parts
N. Engl. J. Med., October 16, 1997; 337(16): 1132 - 1141.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.