Cisatracurium Disease Interactions

Parenteral medications formulated in multidose vials often contain benzyl alcohol as a preservative. Their use is considered by drug manufacturers to be contraindicated in neonates, particularly premature infants and infants of low birth weight. When used in bacteriostatic saline intravascular flush and endotracheal tube lavage solutions, benzyl alcohol has been associated with fatalities and severe respiratory and metabolic complications in low-birth-weight premature infants. Thus, single-dose formulations should always be used in infants whenever possible. However, many experts feel that, in the absence of benzyl alcohol-free equivalents, the amount of the preservative present in these formulations should not necessarily preclude their use if they are clearly indicated. The American Academy of Pediatrics considers benzyl alcohol in low doses (such as when used as a preservative in some medications) to be safe for newborns. However, the administration of high dosages of these medications must take into account the total amount of benzyl alcohol administered. The level at which toxicity may occur is unknown.

Patients with burns may develop resistance to non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents. These patients may experience a shorter duration of action and/or require higher dosages of the drugs. The extent of altered response depends on the duration since and the size of the burn.

The use of neuromuscular blocking agents may cause prolonged respiratory paralysis. Therapy with neuromuscular blocking agents should be administered cautiously in patients with myasthenia gravis. Use of a peripheral nerve stimulator may be helpful in evaluating the level of neuromuscular blockade.

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.