Suxamethonium dosage in electroconvulsive therapy.

A double-blind study was conducted in 52 patients who received a total of 180 electroconvulsive therapy treatments. Patients were allocated randomly to receive doses of 15 mg, 25 mg or 50 mg of suxamethonium. Those who received suxamethonium 50 mg took significantly longer to breathe again compared with patients who received the lower doses, and were significantly more likely to have a very well modified convulsion than patients who received suxamethonium 15 mg. There were no differences among the groups in the incidences of muscle pains after treatment. We conclude that all three doses were acceptable; however, a dose of 25 mg had practical advantages over 50 mg and theoretical advantages over 15 mg.