What the FDA labels say about taking them together
Procainamide and succinylcholine
Procainamide's FDA label of February 17, 2025 names succinylcholine in its drug interactions section, and succinylcholine's label names procainamide too. The succinylcholine label: “… aprotinin, certain non-penicillin antibiotics, quinidine, β-adrenergic blockers, procainamide, lidocaine, trimethaphan, lithium carbonate, magnesium salts, quinine, chloroquine, isoflurane, desflurane, metoclopramide …”
Check it at the source: the procainamide FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 17, 2025, Caplin Steriles Limited); the succinylcholine FDA label on DailyMed (effective August 18, 2026, Hospira, Inc.).
What does the procainamide label say about succinylcholine?
Procainamide label, drug interactionsPatients taking PA who require neuromuscular blocking agents such as succinylcholine may require less than usual doses of the latter, due to PA effects on reducing acetylcholine release.
Source: FDA drug label (Procainamide Hydrochloride), Caplin Steriles Limited, effective February 17, 2025 (SPL set fcaa5e9a-3c8a-4796-aa87-626268b6cf60), via openFDA; the full label on DailyMed
What does the succinylcholine label say about procainamide?
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
| Procainamide | Succinylcholine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | n/a | n/a |
| Boxed warning | Yes | 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