Suxamethonium Chloride

Adults: Suxamethonium Chloride is usually given by bolus intravenous or intramuscular injection. Adults: The dose of Suxamethonium depends on body weight, the degree of muscle relaxation required, the route of administration, and how the individual patient responds. To achieve endotracheal intubation, Suxamethonium is usually given intravenously at a dose of 1 mg/kg. This dose usually produces muscle relaxation within about 30 to 60 seconds and lasts about 2 to 6 minutes. Supplementary doses of 50% to 100% of the initial dose, given at intervals of 5 to 10 minutes, will maintain muscle relaxation during short surgical procedures performed under general anesthesia. For prolonged surgical procedures, Suxamethonium may instead be given by intravenous infusion as a 0.1% to 0.2% solution, diluted in 5% glucose solution or sterile isotonic saline solution, at a rate of 2.5 to 4 mg per minute. The infusion rate should be adjusted according to how the individual patient responds. The total dose given by repeated intravenous injection or continuous infusion should not exceed 500 mg per hour. Children: Infants and young children are more resistant to Suxamethonium than adults. The recommended intravenous dose for infants is 2 mg/kg. A dose of 1 mg/kg is recommended for older children. When given as an intravenous infusion in children, the dosage follows the adult regimen, with a proportionately lower initial infusion rate based on body weight. Suxamethonium may be given intramuscularly to infants at doses of up to 4 to 5 mg/kg, and to older children at doses of up to 4 mg/kg. These doses produce muscle relaxation within about 3 minutes. A total dose of 150 mg should not be exceeded.