Neuromuscular Blocker

Vecuronium

Aminosteroid non-depolarizing NMBA · Norcuron

Mechanism: Competitive nicotinic ACh receptor antagonist.

Calculate dose for your patient

Enter weight (kg or lb). Always verify before administration.

Patient weight

Computed weight

70.0 kg · 154.3 lb

Intubation

5.6 mg – 7.0 mg

= 5.60–7.00 mL (1 mg/mL)

Weight is saved on this device for the next calculator you open.

Full dose calculator

Onset

3–5 min

Duration

25–40 min

Metabolism

Hepatic; biliary & renal excretion. Active metabolite 3-OH-vecuronium.

Dosing

Adult

Intubation: 0.08–0.1 mg/kg. Maintenance: 0.01–0.015 mg/kg.

Pediatric

0.1 mg/kg.

Indications

Intubation
Intraoperative paralysis

Contraindications

Hypersensitivity

Side Effects

Prolonged block in hepatic/renal failure
Minimal CV effects

Clinical Pearls

1Hemodynamically neutral — useful in cardiac cases.

2Reversible with sugammadex.

References & Further Reading

1
Textbook
Flood P, Rathmell JP, Shafer S. Stoelting's Pharmacology and Physiology in Anesthetic Practice. 5th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer; 2015.
2
Textbook
Gropper MA, Miller RD, Cohen NH, et al., eds. Miller's Anesthesia. 9th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier; 2020.
3
Textbook
Barash PG, Cullen BF, Stoelting RK, Cahalan MK, Stock MC, Ortega R, Sharar SR, Holt NF. Clinical Anesthesia. 8th ed. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer; 2017.
4
Textbook
Adriano A, Morris R, eds. 2021 CA-1 Tutorial Textbook (15th Ed.). Stanford University Medical Center, Department of Anesthesiology.

Citations are provided to direct further study. Always check the most current edition of guidelines and society recommendations — the information in this chapter is a teaching summary, not primary source material.