Curare-like effects

Neuromuscular blockade Neurotoxicity can occur. Aminoglycosides may aggravate muscle weakness because of a potential curare-like effect on the neuromuscular junction. 

In very high doses, aminoglycosides can produce a curare-like effect with neuromuscular blockade that results in respiratory paralysis. This paralysis is usually reversible by calcium gluconate (given promptly) or neostigmine. Hypersensitivity occurs infrequently. 

With magnesium infusion therapy, therapeutic ranges of 1.1 to 2.5 mmol L are achieved in serum. Decreased neuromuscular transmission is observed at 2.5 to 3.5 mmol L , while higher serum magnesium concentrations lead to curare-like effects which can be overcome by calcium infusion. Cardiac arrest occurs at serum concentrations of 10 to 12.5 mmol L. ... 

Craig LE (1955) Curare-like Effects. In Manske RHF (ed) The Alkaloids Chemistry and Physiology. Vol. 5 - Pharmacology. Academic Press, New York, p 265 ff... 

How far the acetylcholine-like activity of thiamine, postulated by Kalz (1942), can be used to explain the observed anaphylactoid phenomena has not been discussed in the literature. The same applies to its curare-like effects, as reported by Barazzone and Lambelet (1954), as well as to its effects on nervous tissue (Cooper and PiNCUS 1979). Neither does the literature consider the role thiaminases... 

Complete saponification of aconitine produces an alkan-olamine, aconine (36), that lacks the cardiac effects of aconitine but has antiarrhythmic properties. The compound has curare-like effects on neuromuscular transmission, often resulting in death from respiratory paralysis (Benn and Jacyno, 1983). 

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