Rapacuronium bromide (brand name Raplon) is a rapidly acting, non-depolarizing

aminosteroid Aminosteroids are a group of steroids with a similar structure based on an amino-substituted steroid nucleus. They are neuromuscular blocking agents, acting as competitive antagonists of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR), and block th ...

neuromuscular blocker formerly used in modern

anaesthesia Anesthesia is a state of controlled, temporary loss of sensation or awareness that is induced for medical or veterinary purposes. It may include some or all of analgesia (relief from or prevention of pain), paralysis (muscle relaxation), a ...

, to aid and enable

endotracheal intubation Tracheal intubation, usually simply referred to as intubation, is the placement of a flexible plastic tube into the trachea (windpipe) to maintain an open airway or to serve as a conduit through which to administer certain drugs. It is frequently ...

, which is often necessary to assist in the controlled ventilation of unconscious patients during surgery and sometimes in

intensive care Intensive care medicine, also called critical care medicine, is a medical specialty that deals with seriously or critically ill patients who have, are at risk of, or are recovering from conditions that may be life-threatening. It includes pro ...

. As a non-depolarizing agent it did not cause initial stimulation of muscles before weakening them. Due to risk of fatal

bronchospasm Bronchospasm or a bronchial spasm is a sudden constriction of the muscles in the walls of the bronchioles. It is caused by the release (degranulation) of substances from mast cells or basophils under the influence of anaphylatoxins. It causes di ...

it was withdrawn from the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

market by

Organon The ''Organon'' ( grc, Ὄργανον, meaning "instrument, tool, organ") is the standard collection of Aristotle's six works on logical analysis and dialectic. The name ''Organon'' was given by Aristotle's followers, the Peripatetics. The six ...

on March 27, 2001, less than 2 years after its FDA approval in 1999.

References

Muscle relaxants Nicotinic antagonists Withdrawn drugs Quaternary ammonium compounds 1-Piperidinyl compounds Acetate esters Propionate esters Androstanes Neuromuscular blockers {{musculoskeletal-drug-stub