pancuronium

Pancuronium is a nondepolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent of the aminosteroid class, used as an adjunct to general anesthesia to facilitate tracheal intubation and provide skeletal muscle relaxation during surgery or mechanical ventilation. It acts as a competitive antagonist at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors at the neuromuscular junction, preventing acetylcholine from binding and thereby inhibiting depolarization of muscle fibers. This results in muscle paralysis without causing initial fasciculations. Pancuronium has minimal histamine release but exhibits slight vagolytic activity, which can increase heart rate and blood pressure. Its onset is relatively slow (2–6 minutes), with a long duration of action (up to 100 minutes for clinical effect). The drug’s effects can be reversed by anticholinesterase agents such as neostigmine or pyridostigmine[1][2][4][5].

Brand names

Pavulon

Other names

pancuronium bromide