title: Pharmacokinetics of atracurium besylate in the pig after a single i.v. injection.
abstract: A pharmacokinetic study of atracurium besylate was performed in the pig after a single i.v. bolus injection of 2 mg/kg, the dose needed to produce surgical neuromuscular blockade. The plasma concentration values were obtained by high performance liquid chromatography. Using a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model, the elimination half life was found to be 28.6 +/- 6.3 min (mean +/- SEM), the total volume of distribution 341 +/- 56 ml/kg and the plasma clearance 8.7 +/- 1.1 ml/min/kg. Although the doses required to obtain a satisfactory neuromuscular blockade as well as the plasma level, volume of distribution and plasma clearance values were higher in the pig than in man, the distribution and elimination half-lives were similar to those recently reported.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schopfer
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Pittet
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Morel
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tassonyi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benakis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001279:Atracurium / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D006207:Half-Life; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D001279:Atracurium