Rocuronium (By injection)

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Relaxes muscles during surgery or other medical procedures.

Drug classes

Musculoskeletal Agent (About this – PubMed Health)

Uses

Uses of This Medicine

Rocuronium injection is used with general anesthesia medicines for rapid sequence intubation and routine tracheal intubation. This medicine is also used to help relax the muscles during surgery or mechanical ventilation.

This medicine is to be given only by your doctor or other trained health professional.

Other uses (PubMed Health)

How To Use

Injectable

Your doctor will prescribe your dose and schedule. This medicine is given through a needle placed in a vein.

A nurse or other health provider will give you this medicine.

You will receive this medicine while you are in a hospital or emergency room.

Drugs and Foods to Avoid

Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.

Some medicines can affect how rocuronium works. Tell your doctor if you are using any of the following:

Lithium, procainamide, quinidine Antibiotics (such as amikacin, bacitracin, colistin, gentamicin, polymyxin, sodium colistimethate, streptomycin, tetracycline, vancomycin) Magnesium salts Medicine for seizures Steroid medicine (such as dexamethasone, hydrocortisone, methylprednisolone, prednisolone, prednisone)

When Not To Use

This medicine is not right for everyone. You should not receive it if you had an allergic reaction to rocuronium or similar medicines.

Warnings

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have liver disease, heart or blood vessel disease, heart rhythm problems (such as QT prolongation), high blood pressure, myasthenia gravis, or Eaton-Lambert syndrome. Tell your doctor if you or a family member has a history of malignant hyperthermia (dangerous increase in body temperature) during surgery.

This medicine may cause muscle problems when used for a long time in intensive care unit (ICU). Talk to your doctor if you have concerns about this.

Possible side effects

Summary More details

Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:

Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing

Extreme or ongoing muscle weakness

Fast or uneven heartbeat, high fever, rigid muscles

Pain, itching, burning, swelling, or a lump under your skin where the needle is placed

Trouble breathing

If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:

Muscle weakness or stiffness in the days after you receive this medicine

If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

More side effects of this drug

Brand names include

PremierPro Rx rocuronium bromide, Zemuron

There may be other brand names for this medicine.