Arduan Disease Interactions

Neuromuscular blocking agents undergo metabolism by the liver. Elimination and effects may be prolonged in patients with liver disease. Therapy with neuromuscular blocking agents should be administered cautiously in patients with liver disease.

Patients with hemiparesis or paraparesis may require higher dosages of non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents in the affected limbs. Neuromuscular monitoring should be performed on a non-paretic limb to avoid inaccurate dosing.

Neuromuscular blocking agents can cause respiratory depression and paralysis. Therapy with neuromuscular blocking agents should be administered cautiously in patients with pulmonary impairment. Treatment of respiratory paralysis consists of positive-pressure artificial respiration with oxygen and maintenance of a patent airway until the recovery of normal respiration is assured.

A few of the neuromuscular blocking agents, including doxacurium, mivacurium and pipecuronium, may have prolonged and/or enhanced effects in obese patients (i.e. weight >= 30% over ideal body weight for height). Dosing of these agents should be based on ideal body weight in obese patients.

Many of the non-depolarizing (competitive) neuromuscular blocking agents undergo significant elimination by the kidney. Their effects may, therefore, be prolonged in patients with renal dysfunction. Therapy with these neuromuscular blocking agents should be administered cautiously and initiated at reduced dosages in renally compromised patients, depending on the level of insufficiency. If possible, alternative agents should be considered. Atracurium, rocuronium and vecuronium do not depend on kidney function for clearance and are often the non-depolarizing muscle relaxants of choice in renal failure.