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Depolarising neuromscular blockers



Only one drug is available in this category i.e. succinylcholine. As its suffix indicating, it is quaternary ammonium compound.

structure of succinylcholine

Note: It is also called as suxamethonium.

 

How it acts?

It produces its action in two phases.

  • Contraction phase
  • Relaxation phase

Contraction phase

Suxamethonium acts as agonist on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors at neuromuscular junction thereby activates the receptors and open sodium channels leading to depolarisation. This results initial muscle fasciculations that’s why these drugs produce postoperative pain the patients.

contraction phase by succinylcholine

The succinylcholine which binds to the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors can’t be removed by acetylcholinesterase hence produces long term binding leading to persistent depolarisation paving the way for the next phase of relaxation.

Note: Succinylcholine is hydrolysed by butrylcholinesterase which is present in plasma but it is not hydrolysed by acetylcholinesterase which is present at neuromuscular junction.

Relaxation phase

Ion channel like sodium exist in three stages like open, refractory and closed state. The ion channels which are in closed state are opened by any stimuli like receptor activation. They can’t be immediately go back to closed state at the end of the response instead converted in to refractory state and then into closed state.

states of ion channels

They can respond to next stimuli when they are in closed state only. This time required for re-activation of ion channels is called as refractory period.

relaxation phase by succinylcholine

Depolarising neuromuscular blockers didn’t allow any time for sodium channels for this refractory period due to the persistent depolarisation. This finally results in complete inactivation of sodium channels.

Note: This can be illustrated in our daily life. Suppose you are studying pharmacology in a well scheduled you can do the best in the exams. Instead, if you study entire pharmacology before the day of exam your brain will get a depolarisation block and nothing can be feeded into your brain.

At the same time, due to long term binding nicotinic acetylcholine receptors are desensitized and can’t respond normally to the acetylcholine producing flaccid paralysis.






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