[Effect of cimetidine on neuromuscular blockade by succinylcholine and pancuronium]

The effect of cimetidine on neuromuscular blockade by succinylcholine and pancuronium was investigated in 54 adult patients scheduled for elective surgery. The neuromuscular blocking properties were estimated with single twitch height (T1) which was obtained by measuring the acceleration of adduction of the thumb in response to the ulnar nerve stimulation under N2O-fentanyl anesthesia. In cimetidine group, cimetidine 200 mg was administered orally on the night before surgery and 90 mins before anesthesia. Succinylcholine 1 mg.kg-1 (n = 14) or 1.5 mg.kg-1 (n = 20) was injected intravenously, and the onset time (from injection to 0% T1), the duration of maximal block (0% T1), and the recovery time from injection to 50% and 75% of control twitch height were evaluated. ED25 and ED50 of pancuronium were calculated from the dose response curve obtained by incremental administration of the drug (n = 20) whose total cumulative dose was 0.1 mg.kg-1. The recovery index of pancuronium was determined by measuring the 25%-75% recovery time. There was no significant difference between cimetidine pretreated patients and non-pretreated patients regarding these parameters of neuromuscular blockade with both succinylcholine and pancuronium. In conclusion, cimetidine has no influence on neuromuscular blockade of succinylcholine and pancuronium under N2O-fentanyl anesthesia.