Succinylcholine and heart rhythm

Q; Succinylcholine (Sch) tends to do? (Select one)

A) Bradycardia
B) Tachycardia


Answer: A

The objective of the above question is to emphasize to clinicians that atropine should be kept in vicinity whenever Sch is administrated. The initial metabolite of SCh, named succinylmonocholine sensitizes the cardiac muscarinic receptors in the sinus node, and may lead to bradycardia, particularly when dose of SCh is repeated. Some experts suggests prophylactic use of atropine in patients who are already on bradycardic or if dose is repeated, but this practice is controversial.

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#pharmacology


Reference:

Jeevendra Martyn; Marcel E. Durieux, Succinylcholine: New Insights into Mechanisms of Action of an Old Drug Anesthesiology 4 2006, Vol.104, 633-634. doi:https://doi.org/