Interaction Between Betamethasone and Vecuronium

Abstract

A possible interaction between betamethasone and vecuronium was examined in 20 rat phrenic nerve-hemidiaphragm preparations. Ten preparations were bathed in a physiological solution with betamethasone 1 mumol litre-1 added and, after a 30-min period were exposed to vecuronium at concentrations of 4, 6, 8 and 10 mumol litre-1 with vecuronium free washings between each exposure. Ten control experiments were performed also using a betamethasone-free bathing solution. In comparison with control, the betamethasone group had significantly (P = 0.0008) less depression of muscle contraction (twitch) force at all concentrations of vecuronium. The calculated ED50 (50% depression of muscle contraction force) was 5.65 mumol litre-1 for controls and 7.39 mumol litre-1 for betamethasone-pretreated preparations. This study confirms our previous clinical observations that an interaction occurs between vecuronium and betamethasone which is characterized by resistance to neuromuscular block.

Attenuation of a rocuronium‐induced neuromuscular block in patients receiving prednisolone

“…The interaction between corticosteroids and neuromuscular blocking agents does not seem to be characteristic for prednisolone alone: for betamethasone, 17,18 dexamethasone, 14 and methylprednisolone 1 , an attenuation of the neuromuscular blocking effect has been described in experimental settings.…”

Influence of a continuous prednisolone medication on the time course of neuromuscular block of atracurium in patients with chronic inflammatory bowel disease

“…6 Of note, betamethasone was also able to induce a resistance to neuromuscular block in rat hemidiaphragm preparations. 11 Therefore, the interaction between corticoids and neuromuscular blocking agents does not seem to be limited to prednisolone, but might be characteristic for all corticosteroids.…”

Effect of dexamethasone on the onset time and recovery profiles of cisatracurium

“…It is known that NMBs can interact with many drugs, such as most antibacterials, procainamide, quinidine, magnesium, calcium antagonists, phenytoin, lithium, steroids, and furosemide [11]. In particular, the studies on interaction between NMBs and steroids were usually focused in patients receiving chronic steroid medication [5612]. These reports documented that chronic steroid medication could interact with NMBs, resulting in resistance to NMB action.…”