Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 4/11/2007

Question
A relative recently became comatose after an allergic reaction to SUX (succinyl choline) administered durring a common surgery. Her fever fluctuated between 104 and 108 for 3 days, and nearly one year later she is still in a rehabilitation home trying to relearn basic life skills.  

In reading up on this allergy, I find that it is both hereditary and relatively common. Aprox 1 in 50,000 people will have this reaction! I read that many European medical associations have issued drug warnings relating to SUX, and that some hospitals have stopped using it completely. Do many commonly used drugs have such a high instance of allergy? Im trying to get perspective on those odds. Are there safer drugs which could be used for the same purpose?  

Answer
The complication you mention (malignant hyperthermia??) is probably rare than that but SUX has some very important uses that currently there is no good replacement. Every drug has some allergic properties but there is no way to track the incidences.

Ronald Levy ,MD
Associate Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston