Interactions of neuromuscular blocking agents with ethanol.

Alcohol produces contraction of isolated frog rectus abdominis muscle in a dose dependent manner. In the present study interactions of pancuronium, gallamine and succinylcholine with ethanol have been studied. Pancuronium and gallamine behaved in a non-competitive manner with ethanol. The PD'2 values of pancuronium and gallamine were almost similar. Succinylcholine produced persistent contraction of the muscle which remained unaltered on addition of ethanol. The findings with pancuronium and gallamine suggest that ethanol may be acting through metactoid nicotinic receptors or by the release of acetylcholine like substance.