Rocuronium bromide

Rocuronium (Zemuron, Esmeron) is an aminosteroid non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocker or muscle relaxant used in modern anaesthesia to facilitate endotracheal intubation by providing skeletal muscle relaxation, most commonly required for surgery or mechanical ventilation. It is used for both standard and rapid sequence induction (RSI), although Suxamethonium chloride is usually selected for RSI given its shorter duration of action compared to rocuronium.

Development

It was designed to be a weaker antagonist at the neuromuscular junction than pancuronium; hence its monoquaternary structure and its having an allyl group and a pyrrolidine group attached to the D ring quaternary nitrogen atom. Rocuronium has a rapid onset and intermediate duration of action. It was introduced in 1994, and is marketed under the trade name of Zemuron in the United States and Esmeron in most other countries.

There is considered to be a risk of allergic reaction to the drug in some patients (particularly those with asthma), but a similar incidence of allergic reactions has been observed by using other members of the same drug class (non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking drugs).