Muscle Relaxants

Muscle relaxants

agents that are clinically useful during surgery to produce complete muscle relaxation or in the
treatment of neurological spastic disorders and muscle spasms.

Atracurium
Muscle relaxation for orthopedic and intraocular procedures, hypoxemic animals resisting mechanical
ventilation, tracheal intubation, animals with unstable cardiovascular function that require anesthesia
but cannot tolerate cardiac depression, etc.

Route:

 Intravenous

Duration of action

 Short acting ( ~30mins)

Dose:

 Horses: 0.07- 0.2 mg/kg

Contraindications/ side effect:

 Transient hypotension
 Histamine release

Suxamethonium
 Succinylcholine (suxamethonium) is the only commonly used, peripherally acting muscle
relaxant that is a depolarizing neuromuscular Blocking Agents

Route:

 Intravenous

Duration of action

 Short duration ( 2-6 mins)

Dose:

 Horses: 0.125–0.20 mg/kg

 Cattle: 0.012–0.02 mg/kg

Contraindications/side effects:
  Transient muscle fasciculations
 Muscle pain
 Hyperkalemia
 Cardiac arrhythmias

Dantrolene
 Dantrolene has a direct action on muscle, likely by interfering with the release of calcium from
the sarcoplasmic reticulum.
 Dantrolene is used to treat malignant hyperthermia in various species, porcine stress syndrome,
equine postanesthetic myositis, and equine exertional rhabdomyolysis.

Route:

 Intravenous

Duration:

 8 to 12 hours

Dose:

 Horses: 15-25 mg/kg

 Swine: 3.5 mg/kg

Contraindications/ side effects:

 Can cause dizziness and sedation

Guaifenesin
 Guaifenesin is given intravenously to induce muscle relaxation as an adjunct to anesthesia for
short procedures. It relaxes laryngeal and pharyngeal muscles, allowing easier intubation
 It is also used in treatment of horses with exertional rhabdomyolysis

Route:

 Intravenous

Duration:

 Short half-life (60 to 85 minutes)

Dose:

 Horses, ruminants : 66-132 mg/kg

Contraindications/ side effects:

 Has little effect on the diaphragm and respiratory function.

 It may cause transient increases in cardiac rate and decreases in blood pressure.
Methocarbamol
 Methocarbamol is indicated as adjunct therapy for acute inflammatory and traumatic conditions
of skeletal muscle and to reduce muscle spasms.

Route:

 Intravenous

Duration:

 1 to 2 hours.

Dose:

 2.2-55.5 mg/kg

Contraindications/ side effects:

 Sedation and ataxia