Succinylcholine injection
Succinylcholine injection
What is this medicine?
Succinylcholine (SUK seh nil KOH leen) is a skeletal muscle relaxant. It is used to relax muscles during surgery or while on a breathing machine.
How should I use this medicine?
This medicine is for injection into a vein or muscle. It is given by a health care professional in a hospital or clinic setting.
Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. While this drug may be prescribed for children as young as neonates for selected conditions, precautions do apply.
What side effects may I notice from receiving this medicine?
Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:
allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
breathing problems
eye irritation, itching
facial flushing
signs and symptoms of increased potassium like muscle weakness; chest pain; or fast, irregular heartbeat
signs and symptoms of low blood pressure like dizziness; feeling faint or lightheaded, falls; unusually weak or tired
signs and symptoms of muscle injury like dark urine; trouble passing urine or change in the amount of urine; unusually weak or tired; muscle pain or side or back pain
unusually slow heartbeat
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
muscle pain
muscle weakness
What may interact with this medicine?
This medicine may interact with the following medications:
aprotinin
birth control pills
certain antibiotics like amikacin, gentamicin, tobramycin, tetracyclines, bacitracin, polymyxins, lincomycin, clindamycin, colistin, colistimethate
certain medicines for blood pressure, heart disease, irregular heartbeat
chloroquine
general anesthetics like enflurane, isoflurane, halothane
lidocaine
lithium
magnesium
MAOIs like Carbex, Eldepryl, Marplan, Nardil, and Parnate
metoclopramide
oxytocin
procainamide
quinidine
quinine
steroid medicines like prednisone or cortisone
terbutaline
What if I miss a dose?
This does not apply. This medicine is not for regular use.
Where should I keep my medicine?
This drug is given in a hospital or clinic and will not be stored at home.
What should I tell my health care provider before I take this medicine?
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
glaucoma
head injury
high levels of calcium, magnesium, potassium in the blood
large areas of burned or damaged skin
low levels of calcium, potassium in the blood
lung or breathing disease, like asthma
myasthenia gravis
an unusual or allergic reaction to succinylcholine, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
pregnant or trying to get pregnant
breast-feeding
What should I watch for while using this medicine?
Your condition will be monitored carefully while you are receiving this medicine.
Updated:  
June 28, 2020