Neuromuscular Blocking Agents
| Definition: |
Drugs that interrupt transmission of nerve impulses at the skeletal neuromuscular junction. They can be of two types, competitive, stabilizing blockers (NEUROMUSCULAR NONDEPOLARIZING AGENTS) or noncompetitive, depolarizing agents (NEUROMUSCULAR DEPOLARIZING AGENTS). Both prevent acetylcholine from triggering the muscle contraction and they are used as anesthesia adjuvants, as relaxants during electroshock, in convulsive states, etc. |
| Notes: |
GEN or unspecified; prefer specifics; consider also NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION /drug eff |
| Previously Indexed: |
Autonomic Agents (1966-1974),Curare-Like Agents (1970-1974),Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents (1970-1974) |
Neuromuscular Blocking Agents Categories.
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Neuromuscular Depolarizing Agents - Drugs that interrupt transmission at the skeletal neuromuscular junction by causing sustained depolarization of the motor end plate. These agents are primarily used as adjuvants in surgical anesthesia to cause skeletal muscle relaxation. |
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Neuromuscular Nondepolarizing Agents - Drugs that interrupt transmission at the skeletal neuromuscular junction without causing depolarization of the motor end plate. They prevent acetylcholine from triggering muscle contraction and are used as muscle relaxants during electroshock treatments, in convulsive states, and as anesthesia adjuvants. |
Neuromuscular Blocking Agents Definitions and Terms
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