Neuromuscular blocking drugs (NMBs) are used exclusively in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine. They produce widespread muscle relaxation, including apnoea, and only those skilled in airway management should use them.

There are two classes of NMBs:

• Depolarizing
• Non-depolarizing

They are used in different clinical settings.

This session describes:

• Indications for using muscle relaxants
• How to select an appropriate muscle relaxant
• The pharmacological differences between the classes of NMBs
• Monitoring muscle relaxation in order to time the reversal of neuromuscular blockade