Quelicin, Anectine vs. Nimbex

Quelicin and Anectine (succinylcholine chloride) and Nimbex (cisatracurium besylate) are skeletal muscle relaxants used as adjuncts to general anesthesia to facilitate tracheal intubation and to provide skeletal muscle relaxation during surgery or mechanical ventilation.

Side effects of Quelicin and Anectine and Nimbex that are similar include skin rash.

Side effects of Quelicin and Anectine that are different from Nimbex include cardiac arrest, dangerously fast rise in body temperature, arrhythmias, slow or rapid heart rate, high or low blood pressure, high levels of potassium in the blood, prolonged respiratory depression or apnea, increased eye pressure, muscle twitching, jaw rigidity, postoperative muscle pain, acute kidney failure, and excessive salivation.

Side effects of Nimbex that are different from Quelicin and Anectine include lightheadedness, mild itching, and flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling under the skin).

Both Quelicin and Anectine and Nimbex may interact with lithium and some antibiotics.

Quelicin and Anectine may also interact with promazine, oxytocin, aprotinin, quinidine, p-adrenergic blockers, procainamide, lidocaine, trimethaphan, magnesium salts, quinine, chloroquine, diethylether, isoflurane, desflurane, metoclopramide, terbutaline, oral contraceptives, glucocorticoids, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors.

Nimbex may also interact with seizure medications, heart rhythm medications, and aminoglycosides.

Common side effects of Quelicin, Anectine include:

• cardiac arrest,
• dangerously fast rise in body temperature (malignant hyperthermia),
• arrhythmias,
• slow or rapid heart rate,
• high or low blood pressure,
• high levels of potassium in the blood,
• prolonged respiratory depression or apnea,
• increased intraocular (eye) pressure,
• muscle twitching,
• jaw rigidity,
• postoperative muscle pain,
• acute kidney (renal) failure,
• excessive salivation, and,
• rash.

Common side effects of Nimbex include:

• lightheadedness,
• mild itching or skin rash, or
• flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling under the skin).

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Nimbex including:

• slow heart rate,
• noisy breathing,
• shortness of breath,
• ongoing muscle weakness, or
• inability to move your muscles.

Quelicin, Anectine (succinylcholine chloride) Injection is a short-acting depolarizing skeletal muscle relaxant used as an adjunct to general anesthesia to facilitate tracheal intubation and to provide skeletal muscle relaxation during surgery or mechanical ventilation.

Nimbex (cisatracurium besylate) is a skeletal muscle relaxant given before general anesthesia in preparation for surgery. Nimbex helps keep the body still during surgery. Nimbex also relaxes the throat so a breathing tube can be more easily inserted before surgery. Nimbex is available in generic form.

Quelicin may interact with promazine oxytocin aprotinin antibiotics quinidine p-adrenergic blockers procainamide lidocaine trimethaphan lithium carbonate magnesium salts quinine chloroquine diethylether isoflurane desflurane metoclopramide terbutaline oral contraceptives glucocorticoids or monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. During pregnancy Quelicin should be used only if prescribed. It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Nimbex may interact with lithium, seizure medications, heart rhythm medications, tetracycline antibiotics, or an aminoglycoside. Tell your doctor all medications you use. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment with Nimbex. It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

The dosage of Quelicin is individualized and should always be determined by the physician after careful assessment of the patient.

Dosage of Nimbex is individualized based on the patient's condition, weight and other factors.