Succinylcholine

• You may know this drug as: Anectine®, Quelicin®
• Why it's commonly used: Succinylcholine is prescribed by a doctor to stop skeletal muscle contractions for a short period of time. This is an important part of anesthesia during surgery and certain other medical procedures, such as placing a person on a ventilator in a hospital.
• Side effects: Prolonged paralysis of the breathing muscles during and after anesthesia, which means it takes longer for your muscles to regain control and for you to start breathing on your own. This can be life-threatening in some cases.
• What you can do: Knowing your genetic risk of side effects allows you and your doctor to choose the right drugs for you, opt for alternatives if needed, and take steps to address this paralysis should it occur.
• Did you know? This rare but serious side effect is estimated to occur in 1 out of every 1,800 people who are anesthetized with succinylcholine.

Navigenics tests for variants in a gene that can make a person's body less effective at breaking down certain drugs, including succinylcholine. If your body is less able to break down this medication, it may take you longer to start breathing on your own again after succinylcholine is given. About 65 percent of prolonged post-succinylcholine paralysis is attributed to factors that are largely related to personal genetics.