Rocuronium is a vecuronium analog used to facilitate tracheal intubation and to relax skeletal muscles during surgery. Rocuronium (rapid onset-curonium) is a desacetoxy analogue of vecuronium with a more rapid onset of action.
- Mechanism
- Curator reviewed
Rocuronium acts by competing for cholinergic receptors at the motor end-plate. This action is antagonized by acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, such as neostigmine and edrophonium. Rocuronium acts by competitively binding to nicotinic cholinergic receptors. The binding of vecuronium decreases the opportunity for acetylcholine to bind to the nicotinic receptor at the postjunctional membrane of the myoneural junction. As a result, depolarization is prevented, calcium ions are not released and muscle contraction does not occur. Evidence also suggests that nondepolarizing agents can affect ACh release. It has been hypothesized that nondepolarzing agents bind to postjunctional ("curare") receptors and may therefore interfere with the sodium and potassium flux, which is responsible for depolarization and repolarization of the membranes involved in muscle contraction.
- Primary indication
- For inpatients and outpatients as an adjunct to general anesthesia to facilitate both rapid sequence and routine tracheal intubation, and to provide skeletal muscle relaxation during surgery or mechanical ventilation.Curator reviewed · 4 structured indications
- Formula / weight
- C32H53N2O4 · 529.7742 g/mol (avg)
- First approval
- Canada, 2008 · United States, 1994
- Code names
- ORG 9426
Resolves to
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Which drugs share a target with Rocuronium, and which of those have an active Phase 3 trial?
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