Nondepolarizing Paralytics(Archived)

Excerpt

It is necessary to prevent spontaneous muscular contraction and movement when performing surgical procedures. The introduction of muscle relaxants has revolutionized the practice of anesthesia. By the end of the 1950s, non-depolarizing, neuromuscular blocking drugs (NMBDs), d-tubocurarine, and gallamine were available. Although these two relaxants are no longer in use, several newer NMBDs have emerged with safer side effect profiles over the last 20 years. Non-depolarizing muscle relaxants comprise the majority of clinically relevant neuromuscular blockers. As their name indicates, they cause neuromuscular blockade without depolarizing the motor endplate.