International journal of clinical pharmacology, therapy, and toxicology
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Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther Toxicol · Aug 1983
Comparative StudyDifferential increase in potency of neuromuscular blocking agents by enflurane and halothane.
Cumulative dose-response curves of suxamethonium, tubocurarine, and pancuronium were constructed in 142 patients under enflurane and halothane anesthesia, and neuroleptic anesthesia (control group). The dose-response curves shifted to the left with increasing inspired concentrations of enflurane and halothane, thus indicating an increase in neuromuscular blocking potency. ⋯ Enflurane has a significantly greater synergistic effect than halothane. Beside other mechanisms and sites of action, which are briefly discussed, the recently proposed transient-state concept of relaxant-receptor interaction is applied to explain the increase in affinity at the receptor level.