QUELICIN (succinylcholine chloride)
Quelicin is a medication used for both adults and children undergoing medical procedures that require general anesthesia. It helps patients by relaxing their skeletal muscles during surgery or while they are on mechanical ventilation. Doctors also use it to make the process of tracheal intubation easier and safer for the patient.
How QUELICIN Works
This drug works by binding to cholinergic receptors at the motor end plate, mimicking the action of acetylcholine to cause depolarization. This process initially causes muscle twitching and then blocks further nerve signals from reaching the muscles. The result is a rapid but temporary state of flaccid paralysis that starts with the face and eventually affects the respiratory muscles.
Details
- Status
- Prescription
- First Approved
- 1953-05-01
- Routes
- INJECTION
- Dosage Forms
- INJECTABLE
QUELICIN Approval History
What QUELICIN Treats
4 indicationsQUELICIN is approved for 4 conditions since its original approval in 1953. These indications span multiple therapeutic areas including oncology, immunology, and more.
- General anesthesia adjunct
- Tracheal intubation
- Muscle relaxation during surgery
- Muscle relaxation during mechanical ventilation
QUELICIN Boxed Warning
VENTRICULAR DYSRHYTHMIAS, CARDIAC ARREST, AND DEATH FROM HYPERKALEMIC RHABDOMYOLYSIS IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS • Acute rhabdomyolysis with hyperkalemia followed by ventricular dysrhythmias, cardiac arrest, and death has occurred after the administration of succinylcholine to apparently healthy pediatric patients who were subsequently found to have undiagnosed skeletal muscle myopathy, most frequently Duchenne muscular dystrophy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] . • When a healthy appearing pedia...
WARNING: VENTRICULAR DYSRHYTHMIAS, CARDIAC ARREST, AND DEATH FROM HYPERKALEMIC RHABDOMYOLYSIS IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS • Acute rhabdomyolysis with hyperkalemia followed by ventricular dysrhythmias, cardiac arrest, and death has occurred after the administration of succinylcholine to apparently healthy pediatric patients who were subsequently found to have undiagnosed skeletal muscle myopathy, most frequently Duchenne muscular dystrophy [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] . • When a healthy appearing pediatric patient develops cardiac arrest within minutes after administration of QUELICIN, not felt to be due to inadequate ventilation, oxygenation or anesthetic overdose, immediate treatment for hyperkalemia should be instituted. In the presence of signs of malignant hyperthermia, appropriate treatment should be instituted concurrently [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] . • Reserve the use of QUELICIN in pediatric patients for emergency intubation or instances where immediate securing of the airway is necessary, e.g., laryngospasm, difficult airway, full stomach, or for intramuscular use when a suitable vein is inaccessible [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] . WARNING: VENTRICULAR DYSRHYTHMIAS, CARDIAC ARREST, AND DEATH FROM HYPERKALEMIC RHABDOMYOLYSIS IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning . • Acute rhabdomyolysis with hyperkalemia followed by ventricular dysrhythmias, cardiac arrest, and death has occurred after use in apparently healthy pediatric patients who were subsequently found to have undiagnosed skeletal muscle myopathy. ( 5.1 ) • When a healthy-appearing pediatric patient develops cardiac arrest soon after administration of QUELICIN, not felt to be due to other causes, immediate treatment for hyperkalemia should be instituted. In the presence of signs of malignant hyperthermia, appropriate treatment should be instituted concurrently. ( 5.1 ) • Reserve use of QUELICIN in pediatric patients for emergency intubati
QUELICIN Competitive Set
ProThree rings of competition based on shared molecular targets and treated indications.
Direct competitors
Same target(s) AND same indication — head-to-head.
MoA expansion candidates
Same target(s), different indications — where else is this mechanism being explored?
Indication competitors
Same indication, different mechanism — what else might this patient receive?
Filters applied: drops same-active-ingredient (505(b)(2) reformulations), route-mismatch (topical vs systemic), and cross-therapeutic-area matches in same-indication rings.
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Active Pipeline
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Key Completed Trials
Completed studies with published results, ranked by significance
Trial Timeline
Full development history with FDA approval milestones
Understanding FDA Approval Types
| Count | Type | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| - | ORIG | Original approval - drug first enters market |
| - | SUPPL - Efficacy | New indication (new disease/condition approved) |
| - | SUPPL - Labeling | Label text changes (warnings, dosing updates) |
| - | SUPPL - Manufacturing | Production changes (new facility) |
| - | SUPPL - Chemistry | Formulation changes (new dosage strength) |
Green lines in the timeline show ORIG and Efficacy approvals - the clinically meaningful milestones.
QUELICIN FDA Label Details
Indications & Usage
FDA Label (PDF)QUELICIN is indicated for the treatment of General anesthesia adjunct; Tracheal intubation; Muscle relaxation during surgery; Muscle relaxation during mechanical ventilation.
WARNING: VENTRICULAR DYSRHYTHMIAS, CARDIAC ARREST, AND DEATH FROM HYPERKALEMIC RHABDOMYOLYSIS IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS • Acute rhabdomyolysis with hyperkalemia followed by ventricular dysrhythmias, cardiac arrest, and death has occurred after the administration of succinylcholine to apparently healthy ...
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Data Sources
Data sourced from official FDA and NIH databases. Click links to verify on original sources.