What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Isoflurane and succinylcholine
Isoflurane's FDA label of January 5, 2026 names succinylcholine in its drug interactions section, and succinylcholine's label names isoflurane too. The isoflurane label: “The risk of developing malignant hyperthermia increases with the concomitant administration of succinylcholine and volatile anesthetic agents.”
Check it at the source: the isoflurane FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 5, 2026, Shandong New Time Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.); the succinylcholine FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 18, 2026, Hospira, Inc.).
What does the isoflurane label say about succinylcholine?
Isoflurane label, drug interactionsIn general, anesthetic concentrations of isoflurane at equilibrium reduce the ED 95 of succinylcholine, atracurium, pancuronium, rocuronium and vecuronium by approximately 25 to 40% or more compared to N 2 O/opioid anesthesia.
Isoflurane label, warnings and precautionsThe risk of developing malignant hyperthermia increases with the concomitant administration of succinylcholine and volatile anesthetic agents.
Source: FDA drug label (Forane, NDA017624), Baxter Healthcare Corporation, effective December 9, 2024 (SPL set 3d30eb8d-a62e-475f-926b-78ba63bee9c8), via openFDA
Source: FDA drug label (Isoflurane), Shandong New Time Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., effective January 5, 2026 (SPL set 662ceaf6-650b-4dea-bbee-652f46426024), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the succinylcholine label say about isoflurane?
Succinylcholine label, drug interactionsDRUG INTERACTIONS Drugs that May Enhance the Neuromuscular Blocking Action of Succinylcholine: promazine, oxytocin, aprotinin, certain non-penicillin antibiotics, quinidine, β-adrenergic blockers, procainamide, lidocaine, trimethaphan, lithium carbonate, magnesium salts, quinine, chloroquine, isoflurane, desflurane, metoclopramide, terbutaline, and drugs that reduce plasma cholinesterase activity.
Source: FDA drug label (QUELICIN), Hospira, Inc., effective August 18, 2026 (SPL set fb08161e-7711-406d-e7b3-ea4515c07983), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
These are the labels' own sentences. PlainMeds does not grade interactions; a pharmacist or prescriber can say what they mean for one person's medicines.
Both medicines on the record
| Isoflurane | Succinylcholine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | n/a | n/a |
| Boxed warning | No | Yes |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC) | n/a | n/a |
| Shortage now | No current entry | A presentation being discontinued |
Source: FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026 and the FDA Drug Shortage Database (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Check more medicines together
- up to five at once