Vecuronium and d-tubocurarine combination: potentiation of effect

Anesth Analg. 1985 Jul;64(7):711-4.

Abstract

To evaluate possible potentiation of neuromuscular blocking effect of a combination of vecuronium and d-tubocurarine, cumulative dose-response curves were constructed to compare the potency of this combination with vecuronium and d-tubocurarine given alone. Ten patients each were given incremental injections of 80 micrograms/kg d-tubocurarine or 5 micrograms/kg vecuronium plus 40 micrograms/kg d-tubocurarine, the data for incremental administration of 10 micrograms/kg vecuronium being used from our previously published study (7). The results showed the combination of vecuronium plus d-tubocurarine to be significantly more potent (P less than 0.05) than would be expected from a simple additive effect of the individual drugs given alone. The ED95 doses of d-tubocurarine and vecuronium were 530 micrograms/kg and 57 micrograms/kg, respectively, when administered alone, but when administered together, the ED95 doses were 160 and 20 micrograms/kg, respectively.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Drug Combinations
  • Drug Synergism
  • Humans
  • Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Pancuronium / administration & dosage
  • Pancuronium / analogs & derivatives*
  • Tubocurarine / administration & dosage*
  • Vecuronium Bromide

Substances

  • Drug Combinations
  • Neuromuscular Blocking Agents
  • Vecuronium Bromide
  • Pancuronium
  • Tubocurarine