Vecuronium

Vecuronium is a prescription medication used as general anesthesia. 

• Vecuronium is available under the following different brand names: Norcuron.

Adult and pediatric dosage

Powder for injection

• 10mg
• 20mg

General Anesthesia

Adult dosage

Injection

• Load: 0.08-0.1 mg/kg IVP over 60 seconds or
• 0.04-0.06 mg/kg IVP if the following succinylcholine, plus
• Maintenance: 0.01-0.015 mg/kg IVP 20-45 minutes post initial as needed

Continuous infusion

• Load: 0.001 mg/kg/min IV starting 20 minutes post bolus recovery
• Maintenance: 0.0008-0.0012 mg/kg/min

Pediatric dosage

Children 1-10 years of age: 

• 0.1 mg/kg IVP; repeat every 1 hour as needed; or 
• Continuous infusion: 0.05-0.07 mg/kg/hour IV

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• See “Dosages”.

Common side effects of Vecuronium include:

• muscle weakness
• redness or irritation at the injection site 

Serious side effects of Vecuronium include:

• hives, 
• difficulty breathing, 
• swelling in the face, lips, tongue, or throat, 
• weak or shallow breathing, 
• ongoing muscle weakness,
• loss of movement in any part of the body,
• dizziness, and
• fever

Rare side effects of Vecuronium include:

• none 

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider, or pharmacist first

• Vecuronium has severe interactions with the following drug:
  • dantrolene
• Vecuronium has serious interactions with at least 29 other drugs.
• Vecuronium has moderate interactions with at least 112 other drugs.
• Vecuronium has minor interactions with at least 37 other drugs.

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this drug, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity
• Lack of ventilatory support
• Neuromuscular disease

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Vecuronium?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Vecuronium?”

Cautions

• Additive/synergistic effects if administered with or following an opioid, sedative, or anesthetic agent
• Severe anaphylactic reactions to neuromuscular blocking agents have been reported; these reactions have, in some cases, be life-threatening and fatal; because of the potential severity of these reactions, the necessary precautions, such as the immediate availability of appropriate emergency treatment, should be taken; neuromuscular cross-sensitivity with other neuromuscular blocking agents possible
• Some patients may experience prolonged recovery (paralysis) of neuromuscular function
• Adequate ventilatory support mandatory may experience resistance with less than 25% TBSA burns, may experience increased sensitivity with electrolyte disorders (hyperMg, hypoK, hypoCa)
• CAUTION: Hepatobiliary obstruction, renal dysfunction will significantly prolong the duration of action

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Use in pregnancy with caution if benefits outweigh risks. 
• Lactation: Not known if excreted in breast milk; effect on nursing infants not known; used during pregnancy only when needed.