Cisatracurium

Cisatracurium is a prescription injection used to relax the body's muscles during surgery, certain medical procedures, or while you are receiving breathing support with a ventilator in an intensive care unit (ICU). It works by temporarily blocking the signals between your nerves and muscles, allowing your healthcare team to safely place a breathing tube, perform surgery, or provide mechanical ventilation.

This medicine is commonly used to provide muscle relaxation during surgery, make tracheal intubation (placement of a breathing tube) easier, and help patients breathe comfortably with a mechanical ventilator in the ICU. It relaxes only the muscles and does not provide pain relief or make you unconscious, so it is always used together with appropriate anaesthesia or sedation.

Because this medicine is given as an injection in a hospital, it is not used as a regular treatment at home. It is administered as a single injection or a continuous intravenous infusion by trained healthcare professionals only when needed for your procedure. Before surgery, you will usually be asked to avoid eating or drinking for a certain period as instructed by your anaesthesia team.

Some people may develop temporary side effects such as a slow heart rate, low blood pressure, flushing, or mild breathing changes while the medicine is wearing off. Your medical team will monitor you closely throughout treatment. Tell your healthcare provider immediately if you experience severe difficulty breathing, prolonged muscle weakness, or signs of a severe allergic reaction after your procedure.

Do not receive this medicine if you have previously had a severe allergic reaction to cisatracurium or similar muscle relaxants. Before treatment, tell your doctor if you have myasthenia gravis, other nerve-muscle disorders, severe electrolyte imbalances, or a history of major burn injuries. Certain medicines, including some antibiotics, lithium, and medicines for seizures or heart conditions, may affect how this medicine works. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, elderly, or have kidney or liver disease, your doctor will monitor your treatment carefully.

This medicine provides reliable muscle relaxation during surgery and critical care.

• Provides controlled muscle relaxation: Keeps the muscles relaxed throughout surgery, helping surgeons perform delicate procedures with greater precision and reducing unwanted movement.
• Supports safe airway management: Makes inserting a breathing tube smoother and helps reduce strain on the airway during medical procedures.
• Supports mechanical ventilation: Helps patients breathe comfortably with a ventilator by allowing the breathing machine to work effectively without muscle resistance.
• Suitable for patients with kidney or liver disease: This medicine is broken down naturally in the body and does not depend mainly on the kidneys or liver for elimination, making its effects more predictable in many patients with kidney or liver impairment.

• Follow your doctor's instructions on the dosage and timing of this medication.
• Cisatracurium will be administered by a doctor or nurse in a healthcare facility.
• Do not self-administer.

Common Side Effects (Usually mild)

• Temporary slow heart rate
• Temporary low blood pressure
• Flushing or redness of the skin
• Mild wheezing or temporary breathing changes as the medicine wears off
   

Serious Side Effects (Consult your doctor right away)

• Signs of a severe allergic reaction, such as hives, swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, severe itching, or difficulty breathing
• Severe difficulty breathing or shortness of breath after your procedure
• Prolonged muscle weakness or inability to move your muscles long after surgery
• Extremely fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat