Quelicin, Anectine vs. Zemuron

Quelicin and Anectine (succinylcholine chloride) and Zemuron (rocuronium bromide) 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 Zemuron that are similar include high or low blood pressure, and skin rash.

Side effects of Quelicin and Anectine that are different from Zemuron include cardiac arrest, dangerously fast rise in body temperature, arrhythmias, slow or rapid heart rate, 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 Zemuron that are different from Quelicin and Anectine include nausea, vomiting, swelling or discomfort at the injection site, sleepiness or lightheadedness, and mild itching.

Both Quelicin and Anectine and Zemuron may interact with lithium, magnesium salts, steroids, procainamide, and antibiotics.

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

Zemuron may also interact with seizure medications.

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 Zemuron include:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• swelling or discomfort at the injection site,
• sleepiness or lightheadedness,
• mild itching or skin rash, or
• high or low blood pressure (hypertension or hypotension).

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.

Zemuron (rocuronium bromide) is a nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent given before general anesthesia in preparation for surgery. Zemuron helps keep the body still during surgery and also relaxes the throat so a breathing tube can be more easily inserted before surgery. Zemuron 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.

Zemuron may interact with lithium, procainamide, seizure medication, antacids or mineral supplements containing magnesium, steroids, or antibiotics. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. During pregnancy, Zemuron should only be used if prescribed. 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.

Zemuron is only administered by clinicians experienced with the use, actions, characteristics and complications of neuromuscular blocking agents. Doses of Zemuron injection are individualized based on the condition being treated and the patient's weight, among other factors.