Which medications cause temporary paralysis?

Which medications cause temporary paralysis?

• A. Personal Protective Equipment
• B. Toxidromes
• C. Rapid Sequence Induction
• D. Neuromuscular Blockers

Answer: (D)

Temporary paralysis is produced by neuromuscular blockers. These medications act at the neuromuscular junction, blocking acetylcholine from stimulating skeletal muscles. The result is rapid, reversible relaxation of voluntary muscles, which is why they’re used during procedures like rapid sequence induction to secure the airway. They do not affect consciousness or pain perception by themselves, so anesthesia must accompany their use. Other options describe protective gear (PPE), a set of poisoning symptoms (toxidromes), or a procedure that may involve a drug but is not a drug itself (rapid sequence induction), so they don’t describe a medication class that causes paralysis.

Temporary paralysis is produced by neuromuscular blockers. These medications act at the neuromuscular junction, blocking acetylcholine from stimulating skeletal muscles. The result is rapid, reversible relaxation of voluntary muscles, which is why they’re used during procedures like rapid sequence induction to secure the airway. They do not affect consciousness or pain perception by themselves, so anesthesia must accompany their use. Other options describe protective gear (PPE), a set of poisoning symptoms (toxidromes), or a procedure that may involve a drug but is not a drug itself (rapid sequence induction), so they don’t describe a medication class that causes paralysis.