A PHARMACODYNAMIC MODEL FOR PANCURONIUM

It has been demonstrated that a simple two-compartment kineticmodel may account for the changes in plasma concentration ofpancuronium after i.v. administration. However, it can be shownthat this simple model does not account satisfactorily for theobserved changes in muscle twitch response. By the additionof a receptor (biophase) compartment, twitch response can bereconciled with model behaviour and the characteristics resemblethose predicted by animal studies. The complete model is appliedto the problem of total renal failure, and shows that patientswith this condition are likely to be marginally resistant tosmall doses of pancuronium, with a normal rate of recovery.However, larger doses are likely to result in delayed recovery,the duration of effect increasing in a dose-dependent manner. Communications to C. J. Hull.