title: Diazepam prevents some adverse effects of succinylcholine.
abstract: Neuromuscular, circulatory, and adverse effects of intravenous succinylcholine (SCh), mg/kg, were compared in 3 groups of 40 patients each. Group I served as control; group II received diazepam, 0.05 mg/kg, 5 min before SCh; and group III was given d-tubocurarine (d-Tc), 0.05 mg/kg, for pretreatment. Diazepam pretreatment prevented muscle fasciculations, increases in serum potassium (K+) and creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) levels, increased heart rate and arterial pressure, and postoperative myalgia associated with SCh administration. The neuromuscular blocking action of SCh was not affected. Pretreatment with d-Tc did not abolish increases in serum K+ and CPK levels, was associated with a higher incidence of postoperative myalgia, and decreased the onset and magnitude of SCh-induced muscle paralysis. Our data demonstrate that diazepam, a predominant centrally acting muscle relaxant, is more effective than d-Tc in preventing the adverse effects of SCh, a peripherally acting muscle relaxant.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000758:Anesthesia; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D003975:Diazepam / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005207:Fasciculation / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007442:Intubation, Intratracheal; D008297:Male; D009126:Muscle Relaxation; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D011292:Premedication; D013390:Succinylcholine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014403:Tubocurarine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D003402:Creatine Kinase; D013390:Succinylcholine; D003975:Diazepam; D011188:Potassium; D014403:Tubocurarine