Absorption, Distribution and Excretion
Absorption is rapid. Quaternary ammonium neuromuscular blocking agents are poorly and irregularly absorbed in the gastrointestinal tract. /Neuromuscular Blocking Agents/ The onset of paralysis is approximately 2 minutes, and the duration of action is typically about 15 minutes; the plasma half-life is approximately 0.5-1 hour. It is mainly excreted through a combination of glomerular filtration and tubular secretion… The distribution of (14)C in mice after intraperitoneal injection of [(14)C]Decamethonium was compared using whole-body autoradiography. The rate and extent of hepatic uptake of (14)C were inversely proportional to the rate of urinary excretion. …(14)C rapidly accumulates in cartilage… It is also absorbed by muscle tissue after administration… No biotransformation of Decamethonium was observed in small animals. In rabbits, 80% of the intravenously administered drug was rapidly excreted in the urine within 24 hours in its unchanged form, without excretion via bile or the lungs. The blood-brain barrier and placenta prevent the drug from entering the brain and fetus. Metabolites/Metabolites…are not hydrolyzed by plasma cholinesterases and are excreted unchanged via the kidneys. No evidence of biotransformation of Decamethonium has been found in small animals. …Biological Half-Life…The plasma half-life is approximately 0.5–1 hour. …

Interactions
In humans…Decamethonium… produces and maintains neuromuscular blockade with all the characteristics of depolarizing blockade… particularly effective in enhancing the effects of ethanocyanine chloride, neostigmine, and other anticholinesterase drugs that antagonize competitive blockade. The depolarizing muscle relaxant Decamethonium… has been shown to interact with propranolol… especially in the presence of digitalis… potentially leading to arrhythmias or even cardiac arrest if potassium loss occurs. The depolarizing muscle relaxant Decamethonium… has been shown to interact with quinidine in animals. For more complete data on interactions of Decamethonium (8 in total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Decamethonium is a quaternary ammonium ion belonging to the class of depolarizing muscle relaxants. Its structure contains a decane-1,10-diamine core, with each amino group bearing three methyl substituents. It is both a muscle relaxant and a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist. Decamethonium is derived from the hydride of decane. Decamethonium is used in anesthesia to induce muscle paralysis. It is a short-acting depolarizing muscle relaxant. It is structurally similar to acetylcholine and is a partial agonist of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Drug Indications Used as a skeletal muscle relaxant Mechanism of Action Due to its structural similarity to acetylcholine, demethylamine binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the motor endplate, blocking the binding of acetylcholine to the receptor. During binding, the receptor is actually activated—leading to a process called depolarization. Because demethylamine is not degraded at the neuromuscular junction, the depolarized membrane remains depolarized and unresponsive to any other impulses, resulting in muscle paralysis.
...Decanium...combines certain properties of depolarizers and competitive analgesics...is known as a "dual" mechanism...
/In the case of a dual mechanism/...depolarizers initially produce characteristic fasciculations and enhanced maximal twitching, followed by rapid neuromuscular blockade...responding weakly to tonic stimulation of motor nerves, tubocurarine can enhance the blocking effect, which can usually be reversed with anticholinesterase drugs.
Their initial action is to depolarize the cell membrane by opening channels, in the same manner as acetylcholine. However, because they persist longer at the neuromuscular junction (mainly because they are resistant to acetylcholinesterase), the depolarization lasts longer, resulting in brief, repetitive excitation and potentially triggering brief fasciculations. This initial phase is followed by neuromuscular transmission blockade and flaccid paralysis. /Depolarizers/
In the depolarized state, potassium ions are rapidly lost from the muscle…Although ammonium sebacate persists, some motor endplate membranes…repolarize, but…cannot…stimulate nerves; at this stage, the blocking effect can be antagonized by anticholinesterase and enhanced by stabilizing blocking agents and other drugs…

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Therapeutic Uses
Neuromuscular Depolarizers
Neuromuscular blocking agents are administered via parenteral route and almost always intravenously. /Neuromuscular Blocking Agents/
The primary clinical use of neuromuscular blocking agents is as adjunctive medications for surgical anesthesia…Muscle relaxation is also valuable in various orthopedic procedures…They have been used to assist laryngoscopy, bronchoscopy, and esophagoscopy…to prevent trauma during electroconvulsive therapy. /Neuromuscular Blocking Agents/
Generally, respiratory muscles are most tolerant to ammonium sebacate, thus surgical relaxation can be achieved without loss of respiratory function; however, if respiratory assistance is required, ammonium sebacate should not be used without endotracheal intubation.
For more complete data on the therapeutic uses of decanterium (7 types), please visit the HSDB record page.
Drug Warnings
Neuromuscular blocking agents are potentially dangerous drugs. Therefore, these drugs should only be used on patients by extensively trained anesthesiologists and other clinicians in facilities equipped with respiratory and cardiovascular resuscitation facilities. /Neuromuscular Blocking Agents/
Extra caution should be exercised when using muscle relaxants in dehydrated or critically ill patients. /Neuromuscular Blocking Agents/
Hypothermia, hypokalemia, hypermagnesemia, polymyxin B, and colistin can exacerbate muscle paralysis. If possible, decanterium should be avoided in patients with fractures or muscle spasms, as it may cause fasciculations during its onset.
Decanterium is contraindicated in cases of respiratory depression unless facilities for prolonged assisted ventilation are available. Caution must be exercised in young children and the elderly, and in the lithotomy or head-down position.
For more complete data on the drug warnings of decanterium (15 types), please visit the HSDB record page.

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Pharmacodynamics
Decanium carbamate is a depolarizing muscle relaxant or neuromuscular blocking agent. It acts as a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist at the motor endplate, causing depolarization. These drugs exert their effects at the neuromuscular junction by blocking the action of acetylcholine. Normally, when nerve stimulation causes muscle contraction, acetylcholine is released. Acetylcholine binds to receptors, leading to muscle contraction. While muscle relaxants do not relieve pain or cause loss of consciousness, they play an important role in anesthesia.

C16H38N22+

258.49

258.303

156-74-1

1420-40-2 (diiodide);3198-38-7 (dichloride);541-22-0 (dibromide)

2968

Typically exists as solid at room temperature

268-270 °C
MP: 188-189 °C /Bromide/
268 - 270 °C

3.519

0

0

11

18

164

0

C(CCC[N+](C)(C)C)CCCCCC[N+](C)(C)C

MTCUAOILFDZKCO-UHFFFAOYSA-N

InChI=1S/C16H38N2/c1-17(2,3)15-13-11-9-7-8-10-12-14-16-18(4,5)6/h7-16H2,1-6H3/q+2

trimethyl-[10-(trimethylazaniumyl)decyl]azanium

Ammonium, decamethylenebis(trimethyl-; Decamethonium; Decamethonium

2934.99.9001

Powder      -20°C    3 years

                     4°C     2 years

In solvent   -80°C    6 months

                  -20°C    1 month

Room temperature (This product is stable at ambient temperature for a few days during ordinary shipping and time spent in Customs)

May dissolve in DMSO (in most cases), if not, try other solvents such as H2O, Ethanol, or DMF with a minute amount of products to avoid loss of samples

Note: Listed below are some common formulations that may be used to formulate products with low water solubility (e.g. < 1 mg/mL), you may test these formulations using a minute amount of products to avoid loss of samples.

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Injection Formulation 1: DMSO : Tween 80： Saline = 10 : 5 : 85 (i.e. 100 μL DMSO stock solution → 50 μL Tween 80 → 850 μL Saline)
*Preparation of saline: Dissolve 0.9 g of sodium chloride in 100 mL ddH ₂ O to obtain a clear solution.
Injection Formulation 2: DMSO : PEG300 ：Tween 80 : Saline = 10 : 40 : 5 : 45 (i.e. 100 μL DMSO → 400 μLPEG300 → 50 μL Tween 80 → 450 μL Saline)
Injection Formulation 3: DMSO : Corn oil = 10 : 90 (i.e. 100 μL DMSO → 900 μL Corn oil)
Example: Take the Injection Formulation 3 (DMSO : Corn oil = 10 : 90) as an example, if 1 mL of 2.5 mg/mL working solution is to be prepared, you can take 100 μL 25 mg/mL DMSO stock solution and add to 900 μL corn oil, mix well to obtain a clear or suspension solution (2.5 mg/mL, ready for use in animals).

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Injection Formulation 4: DMSO : 20% SBE-β-CD in saline = 10 : 90 [i.e. 100 μL DMSO → 900 μL (20% SBE-β-CD in saline)]
*Preparation of 20% SBE-β-CD in Saline (4°C，1 week): Dissolve 2 g SBE-β-CD in 10 mL saline to obtain a clear solution.
Injection Formulation 5: 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin : Saline = 50 : 50 (i.e. 500 μL 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin → 500 μL Saline)
Injection Formulation 6: DMSO : PEG300 : castor oil : Saline = 5 : 10 : 20 : 65 (i.e. 50 μL DMSO → 100 μLPEG300 → 200 μL castor oil → 650 μL Saline)
Injection Formulation 7: Ethanol : Cremophor : Saline = 10： 10 : 80 (i.e. 100 μL Ethanol → 100 μL Cremophor → 800 μL Saline)
Injection Formulation 8: Dissolve in Cremophor/Ethanol (50 : 50), then diluted by Saline
Injection Formulation 9: EtOH : Corn oil = 10 : 90 (i.e. 100 μL EtOH → 900 μL Corn oil)
Injection Formulation 10: EtOH : PEG300：Tween 80 : Saline = 10 : 40 : 5 : 45 (i.e. 100 μL EtOH → 400 μLPEG300 → 50 μL Tween 80 → 450 μL Saline)

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Oral Formulation 1: Suspend in 0.5% CMC Na (carboxymethylcellulose sodium)
Oral Formulation 2: Suspend in 0.5% Carboxymethyl cellulose
Example: Take the Oral Formulation 1 (Suspend in 0.5% CMC Na) as an example, if 100 mL of 2.5 mg/mL working solution is to be prepared, you can first prepare 0.5% CMC Na solution by measuring 0.5 g CMC Na and dissolve it in 100 mL ddH2O to obtain a clear solution; then add 250 mg of the product to 100 mL 0.5% CMC Na solution, to make the suspension solution (2.5 mg/mL, ready for use in animals).

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Oral Formulation 3: Dissolved in PEG400
Oral Formulation 4: Suspend in 0.2% Carboxymethyl cellulose
Oral Formulation 5: Dissolve in 0.25% Tween 80 and 0.5% Carboxymethyl cellulose
Oral Formulation 6: Mixing with food powders

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Note: Please be aware that the above formulations are for reference only. InvivoChem strongly recommends customers to read literature methods/protocols carefully before determining which formulation you should use for in vivo studies, as different compounds have different solubility properties and have to be formulated differently.

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 (Please use freshly prepared in vivo formulations for optimal results.)