Intravenous flunitrazepam in the prevention of the side effects of succinylcholine.

Muscular fasciculations, plasma potassium levels and postoperative muscle pains following succinylcholine injection were studied in 64 patients who had been given either dilute flunitrazepam or sodium thiopental to induce anesthesia. In the 32 patients with flunitrazepam-induced anesthesia, muscle fasciculations were present in only 8 and postoperative muscle pains in 4, while none of the patients had elevated plasma potassium. In the thiopental group, muscle fasciculations and postoperative muscle pains were present in 28 and 22 of the other 32 patients, respectively, while all had significantly elevated plasma potassium levels. Flunitrazepam appears to be a useful alternative anesthesia-induction agent that prevents some of the side effects of succinylcholine without reducing its efficiency.