Atracurium is an intermediate-duration, nondepolarizing, skeletal muscle relaxant for intravenous administration. It is used, as an adjunct to general anesthesia, to facilitate endotracheal intubation and to provide skeletal muscle relaxation during surgery or mechanical ventilation. Most adverse reactions were suggestive of histamine release. Common side effects include flushing of the skin and low blood pressure. Drugs which may enhance the neuromuscular blocking action of atracurium include: enflurane; isoflurane; halothane; certain antibiotics, especially the aminoglycosides and polymyxins; lithium; magnesium salts; procainamide; and quinidine.

Cisatracurium is a cis-cis isomer of atracurium and five time as potent as atracurium. The drug is approved by FDA and marketed under the name Nimbex. It is indicated as an adjunct to general anesthesia, to facilitate tracheal intubation, and to provide skeletal muscle relaxation due to its antagonistic properties toward nicotinic acetylcholine receptors.