Succinylcholine for Anesthesia User Reviews (Page 2)

• BBa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 8, 2020

"Breast augmentation, 1-day surgery. After surgery, the anesthesiologist had to keep putting me under general anesthesia as the succinylcholine caused me to have full-body muscular paralysis. I wasn't aware, until this experience, of the condition of pseudocholinesterase deficiency. This is how I found out! Scary, scary experience. The doctors thought I was dead at one point. My husband was extremely scared. My 'wake-up' time from post-surgery should have been 2 hours max. It took me 8+ hours."

• Red...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 30, 2017

"Had a bronchoscopy where succinylcholine was used in the anesthesia and felt fine when I left the hospital. In the early evening, I began to experience stiffness that started in my neck, but by 10:00 it had spread to all of my muscles. My arms, thighs, calves, glutes, stomach, back, and ribs all were extremely sore to the point that I could barely move. Never had such extreme soreness, and it actually wakes me up at night. This has nothing to do with how you were positioned on the table but is a reaction, or side effect, of the succinylcholine. Strongly urge you to use something else."

• ANu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 25, 2020

"I had no idea of the aftereffects from succinylcholine until after having my appendix removed. Post-surgical myalgia is real and so very painful! I thought the operating room team must’ve used me as a life-sized marionette or possibly signed me up for an operating room Jazzercise/Boot Camp workout without my permission. My jaw, neck, arms, shoulders, upper back, ribs, and upper legs feel like I’ve put in some serious gym time. The pain and weakness are almost debilitating. Lifting them without assistance is next to impossible. I am 48 hours post-surgery and the discomfort has yet to wane. Of note, my incision sites are nearly pain-free. I will absolutely put this on a do-not-use list in my medical records. Just wow!"

• Swe...
• February 25, 2018

"I had a very simple procedure done on my bladder. It was done in the morning, and by late afternoon, I was home. Hours later, I woke in severe pain all over my body. I had been diagnosed years before with fibromyalgia, and this was much, much worse. It felt like I had gone crazy in the gym, and every single muscle was screaming in pain. I contacted my doctor and let him know I could not handle this level of pain... I could not sleep... just getting up to use the bathroom was agony. My doctors hospitalized me for about 4 days and put me on a morphine drip... it was the only thing to do. Succinylcholine that was used in my simple procedure was found to be the culprit. I would never allow this medicine in my body again."

• Bus...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 16, 2022

Succinylcholine "I have a pseudocholinesterase deficiency. Having had a carpal tunnel release, I was supposed to be in and out of day surgery in 4 hours. 36 hours later, I was extubated. I was awake and aware the whole time but unable to move (I couldn't even blink my eyes). This was the scariest moment, not knowing if I was ever going to move."

• Tom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 23, 2021

"After an outpatient one-hour groin-located surgery Thursday, by late afternoon Friday, from my neck to my knees, all muscles are extremely painful, like after being overworked by extreme exercise, but so much more so that I cannot sit up, roll over, or simply move my feet without assistance. Even breathing hurts. I wondered what in the world they did while I was under, like made me do the splits and shook me all around like a rag doll? It’s Saturday, so I hope this gets better soon. Don’t know yet if succinylcholine was used, but it sure fits with others’ descriptions and with its sux nickname."

• CGa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 26, 2020

"I had ACDF surgery (disks in neck). I prepared for major pain! However, my procedure was on Thursday. By Saturday, I was off all pain meds. The first 2 days being home, I had terrible pain all over my body. I could hardly walk, and getting up was excruciating! It was NOT my neck that was painful. It was the succinylcholine! I, like others, will NEVER have that drug again!"

• mom...
• August 3, 2017

"I was intubated for general anesthesia for an outpatient endoscopic procedure on 7-3-2017. By next morning, I felt like I'd been hit by a Mack truck, extreme pain in every muscle. I laid in bed for an hour trying to figure the least painful way to get out of bed. I was in so much pain my husband took me to the Emergency Room and a blood test showed my potassium levels (K) were more than double what is normal, which they said indicated an adverse reaction to the succinylcholine I was given. An I.V. of dilaudid offered no pain relief. I normally NEVER use any pain meds, but used Percocet alternating with Ibuprofen for 3 days before I started to feel more normal again. I will never willingly allow succinylcholine to be used on me again!"

• pam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 3, 2017

"I had a supposedly simple female procedure done in 2007 that was supposed to leave me with a little cramping for two days. The next morning, I was in so much pain all over my body. I called the gynecologist, who didn't understand why I would be in so much pain and basically left me to just handle it. I called the hospital to talk to an anesthesiologist; he got my chart, listened, and then put me on hold to look into it more. When he came back, he asked, 'Does it feel like you have been hit with a baseball bat all over your body?' YES!!! He told me it was a side effect of the medication succinylcholine. Six months later, I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia! I don't know if it caused the fibromyalgia, but now I feel like I did for that week all the time."

• Gre...
• June 16, 2020

"This succinylcholine anesthesia may be great for some people, but not for all. My Dr. says I am what is considered to be in the 1-3% of people who will be seriously affected by medications, she’s not joking, I truly am. In 2003, I was given succinylcholine for gallbladder removal surgery and a liver biopsy. I did not regain consciousness for over 12 hours after surgery, which worried everyone. Apparently, I only have a partial enzyme of pseudocholinesterase, which is what breaks down the succinylcholine and allows you to regain consciousness. As for muscle pains, I ended up bleeding out internally for over a week and a half from the liver biopsy, which was extremely painful in itself, so I’m not sure if muscle pain accompanied the succinylcholine. And the crappy part of all of this, NO ONE, not even ME, knew that I had this enzyme deficiency."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 2, 2022

"I was given this for an upper endoscopy at my Outpatient Surgery Center. Afterwards, I was paralyzed, not being able to move, nor talk due to the doctor paralyzing my left vocal cord. My niece got me to the emergency room and was told I must have MS since I was from Michigan. I was transferred to another hospital by ambulance. I could not breathe, my diaphragm would not expand. My PO2 went to 58, and I was told again I had MS and was going to die and go home to die. I was told I couldn’t fly due to my PO2 level but couldn’t get my oxygen since I was leaving the state. My cousin from Michigan, a registered nurse, flew out and brought me home to Michigan with guidance while en route with doctors. I could not talk, nor swallow, very little movement, unable to stand. I got back to Michigan, and the University of Michigan informed me I have Anticholinesterase Deficiency and was lucky to be alive, that most end on a ventilator. It took me five months to recover with speech therapy and physical therapy. I thank God I am alive today."

• Clo...
• December 29, 2019

"I had hernia surgery, and the following day my legs felt like I had run a marathon. My hubby had to help me in and out of bed and up and down from chairs and toilets. It continued into the next day, and I called my PCP, who gave me a shot of Toradol and a muscle relaxant, and a few hours later I was about 50% better, and the following day I was fine. I don’t know if I was given this med, but I plan to check it out."

• Jen...
• November 22, 2020

"I felt okay after surgery, but woke up in excruciating pain, wondering if I should call 911 because all of my muscles were spasming. I couldn’t get out of bed. I was alone, and I have epilepsy. I can still hardly walk or even breathe deeply due to pain. I will threaten all future anesthesiologists. Why is this drug even used at all when there are options?! I have a hip surgery coming up in three weeks, and now I am terrified."

• Fee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 20, 2020

"As with many others here, I had a similar experience. This was part of my anesthesia for a septoplasty that I ended up not getting. My jaw was clenched, so they couldn’t intubate me. I know this is a muscle 'relaxant,' but it did the opposite for me. I almost suspect that the med may have contributed to my jaw doing that, that’s just my suspicion, though, because the second I was awoken, I had bilateral wicked charley horse-type cramping in both my calves. I could barely walk out of the hospital, and the next two days were a living nightmare. I could barely move on my own or even sleep. Sneezing, don’t even ask. Literally felt like my abs were ripping open. I’m on day 4 now, and my muscles are still very sore. This cramping pain literally moved up my body through the muscle groups. Awful, awful stuff!"

• Par...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 13, 2024

"This drug is used to achieve paralysis super fast so the anesthesia staff can place a breathing tube as quickly as possible. It causes the muscles to fire all over the body and paralyzes them for a relatively short period of time - minutes. Soreness is almost universal unless the anesthesia staff use a pretreatment with another paralytic prior to the Sux. Sometimes a patient is exposed to Sux without it, and they feel soreness, which ruins the experience for them. I always pretreat with Rocuronium if it’s not an emergency to avoid this painful but common adverse event. There are other paralytics that can be used, but they last a lot longer and need to be reversed with other drugs so that the patient can breathe on their own when they wake up. I, as an anesthesia provider, don’t like the side effects of anesthesia. I get sick afterward. Succinylcholine is a great drug when used in the correct setting and with the right patient. If you're in respiratory failure and suffocating."

• Cap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 27, 2017

"12 hrs after receiving succinylcholine for endoscopy had severe muscle pain, 12 hours later. It feels like I have been hit by a Mack truck. I could hardly move for 18 hrs, pain finally went away without any additional treatment."

• Nev...
• August 24, 2021

"This medicine should never be used on anyone or anything. There are other drugs that can be used that don't have the horrible side effects of this poison. If I EVER have another surgery of any kind, if they don't sign papers saying they won't use this stuff, I'll walk out. It's pure sadism from doctors and anesthesiologists to use this on anyone. It should be made illegal immediately. The pain it causes is excruciating and lasts for days. There is no legal or moral justification for putting trusting patients through this nightmare. There should be a -10 rating. There are only negatives with this stuff."

• rac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 20, 2022

"Was given this for a small outpatient surgical procedure, and when I woke up from anesthesia, my neck and arms were sore, but nothing horrible. The next morning, I woke up and was unable to even roll over in bed. My husband had to pry me off the bed and get me to the bathroom. The worst pain I’ve ever had in my life, and I’ve had two c-sections, gallstones, and my gallbladder removed, and an open splenectomy. Like every muscle in my body was punched repeatedly by an MMA fighter. For two and a half days, I was barely able to move and worried the pain would never go away. My doctor spoke to the anesthesiologist, and they told me it was 'postoperative myalgia,' which is a possible complication from the succinylcholine used during general anesthesia. If you’re having general anesthesia, ask what they are using, and if it is this, ask for something else! It’s now day three, and it was the first day I was able to get out of bed on my own, and pain has gone from a 10 to a 5."

• Fra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 8, 2022

"I had to have a throat cyst treated surgically. Succinylcholine was one of the anesthetics. All went well the day of the surgery, but the next day my calves started aching. The day after that, I could not even walk because my entire body hurt so badly. To stand, I had to elbow my body out of the recliner, stand perfectly still, and then grab my right leg with my hand to pick my foot up to shuffle to the bathroom or bedroom. I passed a kidney stone once, which was excruciating, but NOTHING like the side effects of this stuff."

• Unk...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 21, 2022

"I had an ERCP yesterday to remove a stent put into my bile ducts prior to having my gallbladder removed. I started hurting all over yesterday afternoon and woke up this morning, and it took me 15 minutes to get myself out of bed. I called my doctor's office this morning, but I am sure this is what was used. I had to have a breathing tube put in for this procedure, so I understand it is common to use Scoline or Sux for this. I have never had such intense pain in my ankles, legs, back, arms, shoulders, chest, throat, and joints in my fingers. I can barely hold anything in my hands. Waiting to hear back from the doctor's office about this. I will never use this drug again! If I have to have another surgery, I will tell the next anesthesiologist that if this is used again, as soon as this pain is over, that I will find them and we will have a serious word of prayer! This stuff is no joke!"

• Inh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 29, 2021

"I had 3 dental extractions and was given this awful med yesterday during general anesthesia. My nose bled all day and night, and when I woke up, I could barely breathe from the fluid built up in my lungs because my stomach muscles hurt so bad, I wasn’t able to cough. I literally fell out of the bed and crawled to the restroom to urinate and almost decided to stay on the floor and go because I couldn’t stand up from the muscle pain in my entire body. Due to having 5 broken lumbar vertebrae, I had access to some Percocet, which I have been using simply to get back and forth from the couch to the restroom. Including falling and breaking my back and being 55 years old, I’ve never experienced this much pain throughout my body. Without the Percocet, I would most likely die of suffocation from the liquid gathering in my lungs. After using enough of this opioid painkiller, I am able to constantly clear my throat enough to open my airway. EVERY muscle in my body is in excruciating pain."

• Jou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 7, 2022

"I will never, never, ever use this drug again. I've taken hundreds of drugs and never had one cause this much muscle pain. I had a small part of my kidney removed for cancer, I had no pain prior to the procedure. After the procedure, I was in the hospital for a few days, and the nurses and doctors were shocked I felt so bad after the procedure. They would say they were surprised at the discomfort I had because I needed pain meds a lot. It lasted about four days. When I got home, I Googled, 'drug makes me feel like I got run over by a truck,' and succinylcholine was the first thing that popped up. I sent a request to my doctor and asked what drugs were used before my procedure. This was one of the three they gave me. Well, never again. Thank God I found out what I believe it was. As I was going to sleep, I heard one of the nurses make a comment, 'never seen anybody give THAT drug before.'"

• Myr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2021

"In May of 2020, I had emergency surgery to remove my right ovary due to ovarian torsion that was cutting off the blood supply. No one was able to explain why afterwards I felt WAY WORSE than after my c-sections, for like a week. Like I got hit by a truck! Fast forward, I had to have an endoscopy with a biopsy on Thursday. Starting Thursday evening, my muscles started to cramp and I'm feeling the same pain as I was from surgery! I called my doctor, and they had no answer to why I was in so much pain! So, I researched and discovered sux was the culprit. Verified it was used during my last 2 procedures. Never again! It's going in my allergies list!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 24, 2021

"I had an outpatient procedure similar to upper GI but not as invasive. I was not given any info whatsoever about the medication being used. The day after my procedure, I could not walk. For 4 days I could hardly walk. I had to have assistance the entire time. I have never felt such pain in my life. It was like my body was in a constant charley horse. Every single muscle in my body. I have a small child at home. Had there been a fire, we would have died because I could barely walk, let alone get my child and get out in time. I called the surgery center the day after the procedure, and the nurse told me it was probably a reaction to succinylcholine and checked my chart to see if it was used. Sure enough, it was. I raised all kinds of drama because I have had several procedures in my life and none that resulted in such pain. I told her I was furious I was not told about the medication and side effects before and given the opportunity to have the other medication. She apologized. Seriously!"

• JES...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 20, 2021

"My 30-year-old son was a physically fit and very healthy young man prior to being given three I.V. injections of 100 mg pre-loaded syringes, one minute apart. The emergency room nurse at the Regional Hospital administered this toxin to my son without being experienced in the use of this very dangerous drug. My son died while he was alert, conscious, and paralyzed. He was resuscitated, then suffered a heart attack within two minutes. This occurred 18 months ago. He is alive inside, but can't move or communicate except with pupil dilatation. It's called 'LOCKED-IN SYNDROME.'"