Vecuronium is used to relax the muscles. It works by blocking the signals between your nerves
and your muscles.
Vecuronium is given before general anesthesia in preparing you for surgery. Vecuronium helps
keep your body still during surgery. It also relaxes your throat so a breathing tube can be more easily
inserted before the surgery.
Vecuronium may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking vecuronium?
You should not receive this medication if you are allergic to vecuronium.
Before receiving vecuronium, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
myasthenia gravis;
cirrhosis or other liver disease;
a history of kidney disease;
heart disease or congestive heart failure;
problems with circulation; or
a nerve-muscle disorder such as ALS (Lou Gehrig's
disease), MS (multiple sclerosis), or muscular dystrophy.
If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to receive
vecuronium, or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.
FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your
doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Before receiving vecuronium, tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take vecuronium?
Vecuronium is given as an injection through a needle placed into a vein or muscle. You will
receive this injection in a hospital or surgical setting.
Your caregivers will monitor your heart function, blood pressure, and breathing while you are
under the effects of vecuronium.
It may take you longer to recover from the effects of vecuronium if you have cirrhosis or other
liver disease.
What happens if I miss a dose of vecuronium?
Since vecuronium is usually given just for anesthesia, you are not likely to be on a dosing
schedule.
Where can I get more information about vecuronium?
Your pharmacist has information about vecuronium written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of vecuronium?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Tell your caregivers right away if you have any of these serious side effects:
trouble breathing;
ongoing muscle weakness; or
inability to move your muscles.
Less serious side effects may include:
feeling light-headed; or
itching.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your
doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about vecuronium?
Before receiving vecuronium, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have
kidney disease, heart disease or congestive heart failure, problems with circulation, or a nerve-muscle
disorder such as ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), MS (multiple sclerosis), or muscular dystrophy.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
It may take you longer to recover from the effects of vecuronium if you have cirrhosis or other
liver disease.
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity after you
recover from anesthesia.
What should I avoid while taking vecuronium?
Follow your doctor's instructions about any restrictions on food, beverages, or activity after you
recover from anesthesia.
What other drugs will affect vecuronium?
There may be other drugs that can interact with vecuronium. Tell your doctor about all your
prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs
prescribed by other doctors.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share
your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
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up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum
information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not
warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does
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given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information
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interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse
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Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 11/10/2009