Reduction of post-suxamethonium pain by pretreatment with four non-depolarizing agents

The frequency of post-suxamethonium pain after pretreatment with small doses of non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agents was studied in 299 patients. Gallamine 10 and 20 mg, tubocurarine 5 mg and pancuronium 1 mg were equally effective when a 2-min interval was allowed between their injection and suxamethonium administration. Fazadinium was ineffective and caused difficulty with intubation. No evidence supporting the concept that dosage should be related to patient's weight was found. Inpatients suffered from post-suxamethonium pain as much as did outpatients.