Clinical Drug Experience Knowledgebase

Pipecuronium is a piperazinyl androstane derivative, which is a non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking agent, which was approved under brand name arduan for injection. It is a long-acting neuromuscular blocking agent, indicated as an adjunct to general anesthesia, to provide skeletal muscle relaxation during surgery. Arduan can also be used to provide skeletal muscle relaxation for endotracheal intubation. Pipecuronium undergoes very little metabolism and is excreted by the kidney and the liver. Owing to its relatively long duration of action and to the residual postoperative neuromuscular block (RPONB), the use of pipecuronium was discontinued in the United States and in several European countries. Because of its excellent safety profile, the use of pipecuronium has been maintained in several countries including China, Russia, Brazil, and Hungary, among others. Its safe use, however, is dependent on the availability of a reliable reversal drug. Although widely used, there are concerns with the use of neostigmine for reversal. Arduan is a powerful competitive antagonist of acetylcholine, since it can bind pre- and postsynaptic (N1) receptors of the transmitters.   ^NCATS