Atracurium Besylate
Also known as: Tracrium, Abbottracurium, Atracur, Faulcurium, Ifacur, Laurak, Mycurium, Relatrac, Sitrac, Trablok, Tracur
This medication is a highly specialized muscle relaxant used exclusively by veterinary professionals during general anesthesia or critical care mechanical ventilation. * It ensures your pet remains perfectly still during delicate surgeries (like eye surgery) or helps them breathe in sync with a ventilator if they are critically ill. * Because it only relaxes muscles and does not provide pain relief or sleep, it is **always** given alongside strong pain medications and sedatives or anesthetics to ensure your pet is completely unconscious and comfortable.
Dosage must be set by your veterinarian for your specific pet. Never give human medication or another pet’s prescription without veterinary guidance.
What it is used for
- Induction dose
- Intraoperative dose
- Induction of respiratory muscle paralysis during mechanical ventilation
- Critically ill patients when low concentrations of, or no inhalant anesthesia can be used
- Intraoperative dose
- Paralysis for periophthalmic surgery (Rabbits)
- Critically ill patients when low concentrations of, or no inhalant anesthesia can be used
- Neuromuscular blockade augmentation during corneal surgery
- Muscle relaxant to facilitate intubation in patients with severe blunt trauma
- Induction of respiratory muscle paralysis during mechanical ventilation
How it is given
Possible side effects
- Allergic reactions
- Inadequate or prolonged neuromuscular block
- Hypotension
- Vasodilation
- Bradycardia
- Tachycardia
- Dyspnea
- Bronchospasm
- Laryngospasm
- Rash
- Urticaria
- Injection site reaction
Cautions & contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to atracurium
- Relative contraindication: Myasthenia gravis
- Lack of ventilatory support (must have mechanical ventilation available)
- > **CRITICAL WARNING:** Atracurium has **NO analgesic or sedative/anesthetic actions**. Patients must be appropriately sedated/anesthetized and provided with analgesia. * **Ventilation:** Positive pressure ventilation (preferably mechanical) is absolutely required when using this drug. * **Histamine Release:** May rarely cause significant histamine release; use with caution in patients where this would be hazardous (e.g., severe cardiovascular disease, asthma). * **Myasthenia Gravis:** Use with extreme caution, or not at all, in patients suffering from myasthenia gravis. * **Vagal Tone:** Has minimal cardiac effects and will not counteract bradycardia or vagal stimulation induced by other anesthetic agents.
Drug interactions
- Aminoglycoside antibiotics (e.g., gentamicin): May enhance the neuromuscular blocking activity of atracurium
- General anesthetics (enflurane, isoflurane, halothane, sevoflurane): May enhance and prolong the neuromuscular blocking activity
- Bacitracin, Polymyxin B (systemic): May enhance neuromuscular blocking activity
- Procainamide: May enhance neuromuscular blocking activity
- Quinidine: May enhance neuromuscular blocking activity
- Lithium: May enhance neuromuscular blocking activity
- Magnesium salts: May enhance neuromuscular blocking activity
- Anticonvulsants (Phenytoin, Carbamazepine): Reported to decrease both the effects and duration of neuromuscular blockade
- Other muscle relaxant drugs: May cause a synergistic or antagonistic effect
- Succinylcholine: May speed the onset of action and enhance the neuromuscular blocking actions of atracurium. Do not give atracurium until succinylcholine effects have diminished.
Frequently asked questions
What is Atracurium Besylate used for in pets?
This medication is a highly specialized muscle relaxant used exclusively by veterinary professionals during general anesthesia or critical care mechanical ventilation. * It ensures your pet remains perfectly still during delicate surgeries (like eye surgery) or helps them breathe in sync with a ventilator if they are critically ill. * Because it only relaxes muscles and does not provide pain relief or sleep, it is **always** given alongside strong pain medications and sedatives or anesthetics to ensure your pet is completely unconscious and comfortable.
Is Atracurium Besylate safe for my pet?
Dosage must be set by your veterinarian for your specific pet. Never give human medication or another pet’s prescription without veterinary guidance.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell, please consult a veterinarian.
Worried about your pet?
Peqaboo’s AI helps you track symptoms, understand lab reports, and know when to see a vet.
Get the Peqaboo app