Succinylcholine and Muscle Aches: What Users Say

• Mea...
• September 24, 2020

For Anesthesia "I was given this succinylcholine during sinus surgery and given no warning of the common side effects. It leaves your muscles so sore that you literally can't move. I was told to sleep propped to help reduce the swelling and make it easier for my surgery-battered sinuses to drain. Definite problems created by the fact that I couldn't even lift my head, much less sit up. This lasted for a good four days. I will NEVER allow this succinylcholine to be used on me again and will insist that any anesthesiologist sign a legal document stating that s/he fully understands that succinylcholine will NOT be used on me EVER again. Had my house caught fire, I would have died because I would not have been able to get myself out."

• Thi...
• April 5, 2021

For Anesthesia "Soooo I had an emergency laparoscopic appendectomy due to acute appendicitis. I am about 36 hours postop, recovering at home with no complications except for the unexpected EXCRUCIATING MUSCLE SORENESS in my neck, chest, shoulders, back, and abs. As others on here have described, before I verified that I, too, had been given succinylcholine, I had begun to suspect I must’ve had some macabre group of sadistic doctors and nurses who abused my paralyzed body while I was under. Like they had somehow forced me to go through military boot camp or just took turns shaking me around like a rag doll on the operating table. If I hadn’t researched this drug and its horrendous effects, I swear I was this close to hiring a lawyer so I could sue the doctors for maltreatment or something! Without question, I will NEVER consent to this awful drug again. It will be on my list of drug “allergies” from now on. No wonder they call it SUX."

• Sar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 3, 2020

For Anesthesia "I had this medication yesterday morning. At night, I haven't been able to sleep until now from cramps in my legs, especially calves and arms. Muscle cramps with a hot sensation, I can't even stand or walk without feeling horrible. Please, if anyone took a certain drug that made them feel better, please advise and tell me how long it will take to pass. I am a single mother alone with my kids in quarantine, so I need to take care of them."

• Spe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 22, 2017

For Anesthesia "I was given this agent prior to having my lumpectomy. I knew something was awry when my calves would hardly move once I was leaving recovery. Now, over 48 hours after surgery, and my muscles are extremely sore. I've never had this reaction to any other general anesthesia agent before. I've made a note to never have it again! My surgical incision feels wonderful, while the rest of me feels like I've been run over by a train!"

• A n...
• September 19, 2018

For Anesthesia "I had a procedure that should’ve only required the use of propofol, but my anesthesiologist had to give me succinylcholine. It wasn’t until the next day that I suffered extreme muscle pain from my jaw down to my calves. My calves were the worst. I couldn’t even turn in bed by myself because my back muscles hurt so much! It took a week to feel back to normal, except my calves. A month out and my calves still hurt if I try to run, jump, or sprint up the stairs. Sometimes I’ll hear a pop in one or both calves, which leaves me limping for the next week. I will never allow an anesthesiologist to give me this again! Save yourself the risk and ask for a different paralytic, there are others, but a reversal will need to be given because they last longer than succinylcholine, as the drug in mention is known. The reversal drug for the other paralytics may cause one to have post-op nausea, but I’d welcome that over the awfulness that I've been through and continue to deal with."