Suxamethonium chloride

Suxamethonium chloride
Clinical data
Pronunciation	/ˌsʌksɪnɪlˈkoʊliːn/
Trade names	Quelicin, Anectine, others
AHFS/Drugs.com	Monograph
License data	US DailyMed: Succinylcholine;
Pregnancy; category	AU: A;
Routes of; administration	Intravenous, intramuscular
ATC code	M03AB01 (WHO) ;
Legal status
Legal status	AU: S4 (Prescription only); CA: ℞-only; UK: POM (Prescription only); US: ℞-only;
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	NA
Metabolism	By pseudocholinesterase, to succinylmonocholine and choline
Onset of action	30–60 sec (IV), 2–3 min (IM)
Duration of action	< 10 min (IV), 10–30 min (IM)
Excretion	Kidney (10%)
Identifiers
	IUPAC name 2,2'-[(1,4-dioxobutane-1,4-diyl)bis(oxy)]bis; (N,N,N-trimethylethanaminium);
CAS Number	306-40-1 ;
PubChem CID	22475;
IUPHAR/BPS	4004;
DrugBank	DB00202 ;
ChemSpider	21080 ;
UNII	J2R869A8YF;
KEGG	D00766 ;
ChEBI	CHEBI:61219 ;
ChEMBL	ChEMBL983 ;
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID7048455 ;
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C14H30Cl2N2O4
Molar mass	361.30 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image;
	SMILES [Cl-].[Cl-].O=C(OCC[N+](C)(C)C)CCC(=O)OCC[N+](C)(C)C;
	InChI InChI=1S/C14H30N2O4.2ClH/c1-15(2,3)9-11-19-13(17)7-8-14(18)20-12-10-16(4,5)6;;/h7-12H2,1-6H3;2*1H/q+2;;/p-2 ; Key:YOEWQQVKRJEPAE-UHFFFAOYSA-L ;
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Suxamethonium chloride (brand names Scoline and Sucostrin, among others), also known as suxamethonium or succinylcholine, or simply sux in medical abbreviation, is a medication used to cause short-term paralysis as part of the process of general anesthesia. This is done to help with tracheal intubation or electroconvulsive therapy. It is administered by injection, either intravenously or intramuscularly. When used in a vein, onset of action is generally within one minute and effects last for up to 10 minutes.

Common side effects of suxamethonium chloride include low blood pressure, increased saliva production, muscle pain, and rash. Possible serious side effects include malignant hyperthermia, hyperkalemia and allergic reactions. The use of suxamethonium chloride is not recommended in the treatment of people who are at risk of hyperkalemia (high blood potassium) or with history of myopathy. Use during pregnancy appears to be safe.

Suxamethonium is a neuromuscular-blocking agent (NMBA), and is classified as a depolarizing neuromuscular drug. It works by blocking the action of acetylcholine on skeletal muscles.

Suxamethonium was described as early as 1906 although it did not enter medical use until 1951. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. Suxamethonium is a prescription medication in the United States, and is available as a generic medication.