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Anesthesiology/Quaternary Ammonium Use ???

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Expert: Dr Ian Jackson - please note UK based - 12/17/2005


Question
Hi, After a head injury 2 yrs ago,I discovered I had a sensitivity to quaternary ammonium  class of drugs & disinfectants. Are there many drugs used in anesthesia that are quaternary ammoniums or quaternary amines? Thanks for your time !
Sincerely,Mary

Answer
Mary

Now that is an interesting one but not unusual. In anaesthesia we use quaternary amines mainly as muscle relaxants i.e. drugs to paralyse you while you are asleep. Sensitivity to these is well known and understood. You just need to ensure that your family as well as yourself are aware of your sensitivity so they can tell people if something happens to you.
It is not a problem to us as anaesthetists as long as we know about it.

I hope this helps
Kind regards
Dr Ian Jackson

Anesthesiology

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Dr Ian Jackson - please note UK based

Expertise

I am a Consultant Anaesthetist in the UK. My interests include ambulatory or day surgery, obstetric anaesthesia and analgesia, acute pain management (use of epidurals and patient controlled analgesia)anaesthesia for surgery on the airway, orthopaedics and most things except brains and hearts. Interest in prehospital care of trauma and provision of medical cover at motorsport events.

Experience


Organizations
European Society of Regional Anaesthesia
British Association of Day Surgery
Obstetric Anaesthetists Association
Association of Anaesthetists

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