Succinylcholine induced myalgia and diazepam in Filipinos- its correlation to serum potassium and creatine phosphokinase

A prospective study of 2 groups of 30 healthy adult subjects was done. In group A (without diazepam), 33. 3% had fasciculations while Group B (with diazepam) had an incidence of 6.66% after intravenous succinylcholine. No postoperative muscle pain was observed in 13.3% subjects in Group A (without diazepam) compared to 60% in Group B (with diazepam). The intensity of muscle fasciculations does not appear to be related to the severity of pain. Group A (without diazepam) showed a significant increase in serum potassium following IV succinylcholine while group B (with diazepam) did not. CPK levels wee significantly increased in both groups. Adequacy of relaxation for intubation was not affected by diazepam.