T48.1: Poisoning: Skeletal muscle relaxants [neuromuscular blocking agents]

You have been poisoned by a drug that paralyzes muscles.

Muscles are controlled by nerves. To achieve this, the nerves send signals to the muscles. If these signals cannot be sent properly, it will be impossible to move the muscles properly. You have been poisoned by a drug that prevents signals being sent from the nerves to the muscles. Drugs like these are mainly used prior to surgery. However, some of the drugs are also used for disorders that involve an involuntary cramping of the muscles.

Drugs can cause poisoning if too much is administered, for example. The drug may also be administered or taken by mistake.

The symptoms depend on precisely which drug caused the poisoning. However, some symptoms are typical for all the drugs that paralyze muscles. The drugs also affect the muscles used for breathing, for example. So poisoning through these drugs can make the person breathless or even stop breathing. Some of the drugs also affect the heart. Your heart may then beat too quickly, too slowly, or irregularly. There may also be allergic reactions to the drug. Then a rash can develop on your skin, for example, or your blood pressure can drop.