IN VITRO DEGRADATION OF ATRACURIUM IN HUMAN PLASMA

Degradation of the neuromuscular blocking agent atracurium has been examined in vitro in both Tris buffer and human plasma using a biological assessment in the mouse to estimate active drug concentrations. These studies show that at normal physiological pH and temperature, the major route of inactivation is by “Hofmann elimination”. Therefore, in clinical use atracurium will be inactivated independently of hepatic, renal or circulatory function or plasma esterase activity