Pipecuronium (Arduan) is a bisquaternary aminosteroid

muscle relaxant A muscle relaxant is a drug that affects skeletal muscle function and decreases the muscle tone. It may be used to alleviate symptoms such as muscle spasms, pain, and hyperreflexia. The term "muscle relaxant" is used to refer to two major therap ...

which blocks nicotinic acetylcholine receptors at the

neuromuscular junction A neuromuscular junction (or myoneural junction) is a chemical synapse between a motor neuron and a muscle fiber. It allows the motor neuron to transmit a signal to the muscle fiber, causing muscle contraction. Muscles require innervation ...

. It is also an antagonist of M2 and

M3 muscarinic receptors The muscarinic acetylcholine receptor, also known as cholinergic/acetylcholine receptor M3, or the muscarinic 3, is a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor encoded by the human gene CHRM3. The M3 muscarinic receptors are located at many places in t ...

and is the most potent neuromuscular blocking agent of the aminosteroid class. It is sold under the

trade names A trade name, trading name, or business name, is a pseudonym used by companies that do not operate under their registered company name. The term for this type of alternative name is a "fictitious" business name. Registering the fictitious name w ...

Arduan and Pycuron.

References

Muscle relaxants Quaternary ammonium compounds Piperazines Acetate esters Bromides Nicotinic antagonists Androstanes {{musculoskeletal-drug-stub

See also

References