Effect of diazepam pretreatment on succinylcholine-induced muscle fasciculation in the dog.

The efficacy of diazepam in attenuation of succinylcholine-induced muscle fasciculations was studied in the dog. Dosage levels of 0.11, 0.22, 0.55, or 1.1 mg of diazepam/kg of body weight were studied in 4 groups of 5 dogs each; another group of 5 dogs served as a control. There was no difference in the occurrence or severity of succinylcholine-induced muscle fasciculations between dogs given diazepam and nontreated controls. Using serum potassium as a quantitative index of physiologic effects of muscle depolarization, differences could not be detected between treated and nontreated dogs.