Erschienen in:
01.02.2004 | Leading Article
Antiepileptic-Induced Resistance to Neuromuscular Blockers
Mechanisms and Clinical Significance
verfasst von:
Associate Professor Sulpicio G. Soriano, J. A. Jeevendra Martyn
Erschienen in:
Clinical Pharmacokinetics
|
Ausgabe 2/2004
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Abstract
Abstract Prolonged administration of antiepileptic drugs is associated with several drug interactions. In the field of anaesthesia and critical care, patients exhibit both sensitivity and resistance to non-depolarising neuromuscular blockers (NDNMBs) after acute and long-term administration of antiepileptic drugs, respectively. Although antiepileptic therapy alone has only mild neuromuscular effects, acutely administered antiepileptic drugs can potentiate the neuromuscular effects of NDNMBs as a result of direct pre- and post-junctional effects. Resistance to NDNMBs during long-term antiepileptic therapy is due to multiple factors operating alone or in combination, including induction of hepatic drug metabolism, increased protein binding of the NDNMBs and/or upregulation of acetylcholine receptors.