Clinical Pharmacology of Rapacuronium Bromide, a New Short‐Acting Neuromuscular Blocking Agent

Abstract

Rapacuronium is a new steroidal, nondepolarizing, neuromuscular blocking agent. It appears to be the least potent of all available nondepolarizing muscle relaxants. Its onset of action resembles that of succinylcholine, and its recovery times are shorter than those of other nondepolarizing agents. The clinical duration of rapacuronium can be shortened significantly with early (2 min) administration of neostigmine, which may be beneficial in patients with difficult airway or failed intubation. Rapacuronium appears to be free of significant cardiovascular complications.

Anaesthesiology into the new millenium

“…We will certainly have some development within the neuromuscular blocking area with new non‐depolarizing, fast‐acting and short‐acting drugs. Rapacuronium is already launched as such a drug ( 1) and there will certainly be further refinements made in the future. Neuromuscular drugs are one of the cornerstones of general anaesthesia, and will still be in cases of emergency, filled stomach and major surgery.…”