Vecuronium bromide
| Clinical data | |
|---|---|
| Trade names | Norcuron, others |
| AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
| License data | |
| Routes of administration | Intravenous |
| ATC code | |
| Legal status | |
| Legal status |
|
| Pharmacokinetic data | |
| Bioavailability | 100% (IV) |
| Metabolism | liver 30% |
| Onset of action | < 1 min[1] |
| Elimination half-life | 51–80 minutes (longer with kidney failure) |
| Duration of action | 15–30 min[2] |
| Excretion | Fecal (40–75%) and kidney (30% as unchanged drug and metabolites) |
| Identifiers | |
IUPAC name
| |
| CAS Number | |
| PubChem CID | |
| DrugBank | |
| ChemSpider | |
| UNII | |
| KEGG | |
| ChEMBL | |
| CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.051.549 |
| Chemical and physical data | |
| Formula | C34H57BrN2O4 |
| Molar mass | 637.744 g·mol−1 |
| 3D model (JSmol) | |
SMILES
| |
InChI
| |
| (what is this?) (verify) | |
Vecuronium bromide, sold under the brand name Norcuron among others, is a medication used as part of general anesthesia to provide skeletal muscle relaxation during surgery or mechanical ventilation.[1] It is also used to help with endotracheal intubation; however, agents such as suxamethonium (succinylcholine) or rocuronium are generally preferred if this needs to be done quickly.[1] It is given by injection into a vein.[1] Effects are greatest at about 4 minutes and last for up to an hour.[1]
Side effects may include low blood pressure and prolonged paralysis.[3] Allergic reactions are rare.[4] It is unclear if use in pregnancy is safe for the baby.[1]
Vecuronium is in the aminosteroid neuromuscular-blocker family of medications and is of the non-depolarizing type.[1] It works by competitively blocking the action of acetylcholine on skeletal muscles.[1] The effects may be reversed with sugammadex or a combination of neostigmine and glycopyrrolate. To minimize residual blockade, reversal should only be attempted if some degree of spontaneous recovery has been achieved.[1]
Vecuronium was approved for medical use in the United States in 1984[1] and is available as a generic medication.[1] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[5]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "Vecuronium Bromide". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
- ^ Hamilton R (2015). Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopoeia 2015 Deluxe Lab-Coat Edition. Jones & Bartlett Learning. p. 23. ISBN 9781284057560.
- ^ "NORCURON 10mg - Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) - (eMC)". www.medicines.org.uk. 4 August 2000. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ World Health Organization (2009). Stuart MC, Kouimtzi M, Hill SR (eds.). WHO Model Formulary 2008. World Health Organization. p. 431. hdl:10665/44053. ISBN 9789241547659.
- ^ World Health Organization (2023). The selection and use of essential medicines 2023: web annex A: World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 23rd list (2023). Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/371090. WHO/MHP/HPS/EML/2023.02.