Atracurium injection

What is this medication?

ATRACURIUM (a tra KYOO ree um) is a skeletal muscle relaxant. It is used to relax muscles during surgery or while on a breathing machine.

This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

COMMON BRAND NAME(S): Tracrium

What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?

They need to know if you have any of these conditions:

• dehydration
• heart disease
• high levels of calcium, magnesium in the blood
• large areas of burned or damaged skin
• low levels of calcium, magnesium, potassium in the blood
• lung or breathing disease, like asthma
• myasthenia gravis
• an unusual or allergic reaction to atracurium, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
• pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• breast-feeding

How should I use this medication?

This medicine is for injection or infusion into a vein. It is given by a health care professional in a hospital or clinic setting.

Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. While this drug may be prescribed for children as young as infants for selected conditions, precautions do apply.

Overdosage: If you think you have taken too much of this medicine contact a poison control center or emergency room at once.

NOTE: This medicine is only for you. Do not share this medicine with others.

What if I miss a dose?

This does not apply. This medicine is not for regular use.

What may interact with this medication?

This medicine may interact with the following medications:

• certain antibiotics like amikacin, gentamicin, tobramycin, polymyxins
• general anesthetics like enflurane, isoflurane, halothane
• lithium
• magnesium
• other medicines that relax muscles for surgery
• procainamide
• quinidine

This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.

What should I watch for while using this medication?

Your condition will be monitored carefully while you are receiving this medicine.

What side effects may I notice from receiving this medication?

Side effects that you should report to your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible:

• allergic reactions like skin rash, itching or hives, swelling of the face, lips, or tongue
• breathing problems
• eye irritation, itching
• facial flushing
• seizures
• signs and symptoms of low blood pressure like dizziness; feeling faint or lightheaded, falls; unusually weak or tired
• signs and symptoms of muscle injury like dark urine; trouble passing urine or change in the amount of urine; unusually weak or tired; muscle pain; back pain

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report these to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):

• muscle pain
• muscle weakness
• pain, redness or irritation at site where injected

This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Where should I keep my medication?

This medicine is given in a hospital or clinic and will not be stored at home.

NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.