atracurium
Last reviewed 06/2021
Atracurium is a widely-used non-depolarising neuromuscular blocker causing muscular relaxation. It has a short duration of action (20 minutes) because of stability only in cold, acidic environments. It degrades rapidly in the body and so is independent of liver and renal elimination. This is of value in patients with dysfunction of these systems.
It causes histamine release and is therefore best avoided in asthmatics.