Read this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine. (DOWNLOAD)
- You may need to read it again before, during or after use of this medicine. • If you have any further questions, ask your health care provider.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.
- If any of the side effects become serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please inform your health care provider.
In this leaflet:
- What Pancuronium Injection is and what it is used for
- What you need to know before you use Pancuronium Injection
- How to use Pancuronium Injection
- Possible side effects
- How to store Pancuronium Injection
- Contents of the pack and other information
- WHAT PANCURONIUM INJECTION IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR PANCURONIUM (pan kyoo ROE nee um) is one of a group of medicines called ‘non depolarising’ muscle relaxants. It is a skeletal muscle relaxant used to relax muscles during surgery including caesarean section and in intensive care patients or while on a breathing machine.
This medicine may be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.
- WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU USE PANCURONIUM INJECTION Before taking Pancuronium Injection, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to Pancuronium Bromide or any of the ingredients of this medicine.
Do not use this medication if you are:
- Allergic to Pancuronium bromide or any of the ingredients of this medicine • Using “depolarising” muscle relaxants, e.g. Suxamethonium at the same time.
This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.
Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of liver disease, biliary tract problems (such as blockage), blood/bone marrow disorders.
Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist or nurse before using Pancuronium bromide injection • if you have kidney, liver, lung or heart disease
- if you have high blood pressure
- if you have cancer, particularly lung cancer
- if you suffer from any of the following conditions: muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, myasthenic syndrome (other neuromuscular diseases) or poliomyelitis • if you have fluid retention (you may have swelling around the ankles) • if you have jaundice
Other medicines and Pancuronium Injection
You must tell your doctor if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines that you buy at the chemist, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and Pancuronium Bromide Injection may interfere with each other. These include:
- Medicines for anxiety, depression or mental illness
- Medicine for epilepsy such as phenytoin
- Antibiotics or anti-infectives
- Any medicines for heart problems or high blood pressure including quinidine, propranolol, calcium channel blockers and beta-blockers
- Quinine
- Diuretics
- Medicines for immunosuppression
- Theophylline
- Medicines for muscle disease
- Corticosteroids including hydrocortisone and prednisolone
- Adrenaline
- Cisplatin (a drug used in chemotherapy)
- Opiates (strong pain medication)
- Magnesium sulphate or products containing magnesium
- Thiamine (Vitamin B1)
Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you what to do if you are taking any of these medicines. This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect Pancuronium, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Pancuronium bromide should not be administered during pregnancy or breastfeeding unless your doctor says so.
Pancuronium bromide should be given to a pregnant woman only if the administering clinician decides that the benefits outweigh the risks.
Driving and using machines
Do not drive or use machines for 24 hours after full recovery from the muscle relaxant effects of Pancuronium bromide.
- HOW TO USE PANCURONIUM INJECTION
Pancuronium Bromide Injection will be given to you by an anaesthetist. It will be given by injection into your bloodstream. The dose you will be given will be carefully worked out depending on the procedure, and your body weight. Since Pancuronium Bromide Injection will stop your muscles moving, it will be necessary for the anaesthetist to help you breathe while you are being given it.
The dose of medicine given to you will depend upon your age, your weight, expected duration of surgery, drugs that have been given to you previously and how well your kidneys and liver are working.
The recommended dose range in adults is typically between 50 and 100 micrograms/kg body weight. Smaller doses of 10 to 20 micrograms/kg body weight may follow. For children, the initial dosage range of medicine given to you may be between 60 – 100 micrograms/kg body weight. Smaller doses of 10 to 20 micrograms/kg body weight may follow.
Use in children
Talk to your pediatrician regarding the use of this medicine in children. While this drug may be prescribed for children as young as neonates for selected conditions, precautions do apply.
For neonates, the dosage may vary but may be between 30 – 40 micrograms/kg bodyweight.
If you use more Pancuronium Injection than you should
This medicine will be given to you in a hospital, under the supervision of a doctor. It is unlikely that you will be given too much or too little, however, tell your doctor or nurse if you have any concerns.
The anaesthetist giving you Pancuronium Bromide Injection will be experienced in its use, so it will be extremely unlikely that you will be given too much. Pancuronium Bromide Injection doses will be carefully worked out, so problems with overdose are unlikely. There is another medicine called neostigmine which can be used to reverse the effects of too much Pancuronium Bromide Injection.
If you forget to use Pancuronium Injection
This medicine will be given to you in a hospital, under the supervision of a doctor. It is unlikely that you will be given too much or too little, however, tell your doctor or nurse if you have any concerns.
- POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well after you have been given Pancuronium Bromide Injection.
It may have unwanted side-effects in a few people.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor or nurse immediately if you notice any of the following: • Breathing difficulties
- Severe rash or irritation
- Swollen face.
These are all serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention.
Serious side effects are rare.
Tell your doctor or nurse if you notice any of the following and they worry you: • Increased saliva
- Rash or itching
- Wheezing
- Redness, pain or burning at the site of injection
- Flushing
These are all mild side effects of Pancuronium Bromide Injection.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell. Some people may get other side effects while being given Pancuronium Bromide Injection
- HOW TO STORE PANCURONIUM INJECTION
- Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
- Store below between 2-8°C
- Do not freeze
- Do not use Pancuronium Injection after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and label ‘EXP DATE’. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
- FURTHER INFORMATION.
Each ml of Pancuronium Injection contains 2mg of Pancuronium Bromide
What PANCURONIUM INJECTION looks like and contents of the pack Clear transparent liquid in 10 x 2mL Glass Ampoules packed in an inner carton.
