Have you ever had to undergo surgery? Or have you ever seen someone connected to a breathing machine/ventilator? In cases like this, we are talking about a special injection that is given to completely relax the muscles of the body. It is called Mivacurium. It is very important to know about this.
What is Mivacurium?
Simply put, Mivacurium is a skeletal muscle relaxant . It temporarily relaxes, or rather paralyzes, the muscles that attach to the bones in our body.
Now you might be thinking, "Why would you do that?" There are two reasons for that:
1. During Surgeries: When performing a major surgery, the surgeon needs to do his job without any hindrance. It is difficult to do so if our muscles are tense. When this medicine is given, the muscles completely relax, so the doctors can do their job easily.
2. When connected to breathing machines/ventilators: When some critically ill patients have difficulty breathing on their own, we connect them to a breathing machine. But sometimes the patient's body starts to "fight" with the machine. That is, when the machine breathes in, the patient's chest muscles tighten and try to breathe out. When this medicine is given, those muscles relax, allowing the machine to do its job more easily.
The most important thing is that this is only given in a hospital, under the supervision of a specialist such as an anaesthetist.
Things you need to tell your doctor before giving this medicine
This is very important. When the anesthesiologist asks you questions before you have surgery, if you have any of these things, you should definitely tell them . Because that information will determine the dosage of the medication you will be given and the type of medication used.
| Situation you need to report | Description |
|---|---|
| Allergies | Be sure to tell your doctor if you have any allergies to Mivacurium or any other medicine, food, or dye. |
| Heart Disease | It is important to be aware of any heart condition. |
| Kidney or Liver Disease | If you have poor kidney or liver function, the time it takes for this medicine to leave your body may change. |
| Breathing Problems | Tell us if you have any lung diseases like asthma. |
| Neurological diseases such as Myasthenia Gravis | The effects of this medicine can vary greatly for people with diseases related to the nervous system like this. |
| Dehydration or Electrolyte Imbalance | If there is a lack of water in the body or a change in the levels of salts such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium. |
| Large Burns | If a large area of the body is burned, that can also affect the effectiveness of this medicine. |
| Pregnancy or breastfeeding | If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding, it is essential to inform your doctor about this. |
How do you use this medicine?
This medicine is given as an injection into a vein , or as a continuous infusion like saline. This can only be given by a doctor, an anesthesiologist, or a trained nurse. So you won't have to use it at home.
This medicine is used in some special cases for young children, especially those over 2 years old. But it is done with great caution and only on the advice of a specialist.
What to do if the medication dose is increased?
Since this is given in a hospital, the chances of overdose are very low. Because the medical team is always watching you. But if something like that happens, that is, if the effect of the medicine increases too much, the hospital has all the facilities to treat it. In an emergency, the doctors will inform the National Poisons Information Center at the National Hospital or the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the hospital and get the necessary advice.
What other medications may interact with this medicine?
Yes, some medications can change the effects of Mivacurium. That is, they can increase or decrease its strength. That is why you should tell your doctor about all the medications you are taking (including vitamins and traditional medicines) before surgery.
| Drug category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Some antibiotics | Medicines like Amikacin, Gentamicin, Tobramycin, Tetracyclines, Clindamycin. |
| General Anesthetics | Gases used to induce unconsciousness during surgery, such as Enflurane, Isoflurane, and Halothane. |
| Medicines for seizures | Carbamazepine, Phenytoin. |
| Other medications | Lithium, Magnesium, Quinidine, Procainamide, Steroids (like Prednisone), MAOIs. |
This list is not complete, so it's safest to tell your doctor about all the medications you take.
What are the possible side effects?
Like any medicine, Mivacurium can cause side effects. But because you are under medical supervision in the hospital, they are ready to treat it quickly if something like this happens.
| Side effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Things to tell your doctor or nurse immediately | |
| Allergic Reactions | Skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, difficulty breathing. |
| Low Blood Pressure | Dizziness , feeling light-headed, blue eyes. |
| Facial flushing | Sudden redness of the face. |
| Symptoms of muscle damage | Dark urine, difficulty urinating, extreme fatigue, muscle pain. |
| Things that are usually not serious, but should be reported if they persist | |
| Muscle pain/weakness | If you still feel pain or weakness in your muscles after the effects of the medicine wear off. |
| Pain at the injection site | Redness, pain, or swelling around the injection site. |
Take-Home Message
- Mivacurium is a specialist drug used to relax muscles during surgery and when connected to a breathing machine.
- This is not a medicine you can take home. It is only used in a hospital, under medical supervision.
- It is imperative that you tell your doctor about any medical conditions you have, any medications you are taking, and any allergies you have before surgery.
- There may be side effects, but you don't need to worry about them because you're in the hospital. The medical team is taking care of everything.
- If you have any questions about this medicine, don't be afraid to ask your doctor.
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