Other Brands/Names

In Indonesia, this medicine is marketed under several brand names, including Farelax, Notrixum, Surelax, Tracrium, Tramus, and Tricum.

How It Works

Atracurium besilate is used to facilitate placement of airway tubes in patients undergoing general anesthesia. It blocks the action of acetylcholine at neuromuscular junctions, producing skeletal muscle relaxation, including in the airway, which helps with endotracheal intubation and ventilatory management in intensive care.

Indications

• Endotracheal tube insertion

• Assisting mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit

• As a muscle relaxant during general anesthesia procedures

Contraindication

People with prior history of hypersensitivity or allergy to atracurium besilate is contraindicated.

Side Effects

Although adverse effects are uncommon, the following symptoms may occur:

• Red patches on the skin, itching, hives

• Asthma or bronchospasm (airway narrowing)

• Cyanosis (bluish skin)

• Bradycardia (slow heart rate)

• Anaphylactic shock (severe hypotension following drug administration)

Types

Available atracurium besilate formulations include injectable solutions of 10 mg/mL, 25 mg/2.5 mL, and 50 mg/5 mL.

Dosage

• Adults: 300–600 micrograms/kg by IV injection as the initial dose, followed by 100–200 micrograms/kg by IV injection every 15–25 minutes, or 5–10 micrograms/kg/minute by continuous IV infusion for prolonged procedures.

• Children >1 month old: dosing is the same as for adults.

Safety

This medicine is categorized as FDA category C in pregnancy. The datas from animal studies have shown risks to fetus and adequate, well-controlled human studies are still lacking, so the use during pregnancy requires careful risk and benefit assessment and caution.

Drug Interactions

Concomitant use of atracurium besilate with aminoglycoside antibiotics and polymyxins has the potential to affect neuromuscular blockade, which can increase the risks of unwanted adverse effects. For this reason, combined use of atracurium besilate with these agents requires close medical supervision and appropriate monitoring to prevent undesirable outcomes.

Looking for more information about other drugs? Click here!