Gallamine triethiodide (Flaxedil) is a non-depolarising muscle relaxant. It acts by combining with the cholinergic receptor sites in

muscle Muscle is a soft tissue, one of the four basic types of animal tissue. There are three types of muscle tissue in vertebrates: skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, and smooth muscle. Muscle tissue gives skeletal muscles the ability to muscle contra ...

and competitively blocking the transmitter action of

acetylcholine Acetylcholine (ACh) is an organic compound that functions in the brain and body of many types of animals (including humans) as a neurotransmitter. Its name is derived from its chemical structure: it is an ester of acetic acid and choline. Par ...

. Gallamine is a non-depolarising type of blocker as it binds to the acetylcholine receptor but does not have the

biological activity In pharmacology, biological activity or pharmacological activity describes the beneficial or adverse effects of a drug on living matter. When a drug is a complex chemical mixture, this activity is exerted by the substance's active ingredient or ...

of acetyl choline. Gallamine triethiodide has a

parasympatholytic A parasympatholytic agent is a substance or activity that reduces the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system. The term parasympatholytic typically refers to the effect of a drug, although some poisons act to block the parasympathetic n ...

effect on the cardiac

vagus nerve The vagus nerve, also known as the tenth cranial nerve (CN X), plays a crucial role in the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for regulating involuntary functions within the human body. This nerve carries both sensory and motor fibe ...

, which causes

tachycardia Tachycardia, also called tachyarrhythmia, is a heart rate that exceeds the normal resting rate. In general, a resting heart rate over 100 beats per minute is accepted as tachycardia in adults. Heart rates above the resting rate may be normal ...

and occasionally

hypertension Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a Chronic condition, long-term Disease, medical condition in which the blood pressure in the artery, arteries is persistently elevated. High blood pressure usually does not cause symptoms i ...

. Very high doses cause

histamine Histamine is an organic nitrogenous compound involved in local immune responses communication, as well as regulating physiological functions in the gut and acting as a neurotransmitter for the brain, spinal cord, and uterus. Discovered in 19 ...

release.
Presence of

iodine Iodine is a chemical element; it has symbol I and atomic number 53. The heaviest of the stable halogens, it exists at standard conditions as a semi-lustrous, non-metallic solid that melts to form a deep violet liquid at , and boils to a vi ...

makes it radio opaque, and its ampule in a bag at airport's x-ray scanner raise the false suspicion of a

bullet A bullet is a kinetic projectile, a component of firearm ammunition that is shot from a gun barrel. They are made of a variety of materials, such as copper, lead, steel, polymer, rubber and even wax; and are made in various shapes and constru ...

in the bag. Gallamine triethiodide was commonly used to prevent muscle contractions during surgical procedures, but is now superseded by new neuromuscular blocking drugs with less

side effects In medicine, a side effect is an effect of the use of a medicinal drug or other treatment, usually adverse but sometimes beneficial, that is unintended. Herbal and traditional medicines also have side effects. A drug or procedure usually used ...

. It was developed by Daniel Bovet in 1947. The drug is no longer marketed in the United States, according to the FDA Orange Book.

References

{{Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor modulators M2 receptor antagonists Muscle relaxants Neuromuscular blockers Nicotinic antagonists Phenol ethers Quaternary ammonium compounds

See also

References