Atracurium besylate (besylate is an approved contraction of benzenesulphonate).
A non-depolarising muscle relaxant which is - in part - eliminated by Hofman degradation.
At room temperature atracurium loses 8% of its clinical activity per month. Although it is routinely kept in the fridge, short periods at room temperature are clinically insignificant.
Depolarising relaxants (sux) are agonists for ACh at the neuromuscular junction. Having caused depolarisation of the endplate, they remain bound to the receptor blocking any further action by ACh.
Non-depolarising relaxants are competitive antagonists at the ACh receptor in the neuromuscular junction.
