Rocuronium is an aminosteroid

Aminosteroid

Aminosteroids are a group of drugs with a similar structure based on a steroid nucleus. Examples are the muscle relaxants rocuronium, vecuronium, pipecuronium and pancuronium....

 non-depolarizing (that is, it does not cause initial stimulation of muscles before weakening them) neuromuscular blocker

Neuromuscular-blocking drugs

Neuromuscular-blocking drugs block neuromuscular transmission at the neuromuscular junction, causing paralysis of the affected skeletal muscles. This is accomplished either by acting presynaptically via the inhibition of acetylcholine synthesis or release or by acting postsynaptically at the...

 or muscle relaxant

Muscle relaxant

A muscle relaxant is a drug which affects skeletal muscle function and decreases the muscle tone. It may be used to alleviate symptoms such as muscle spasms, pain, and hyperreflexia. The term "muscle relaxant" is used to refer to two major therapeutic groups: neuromuscular blockers and spasmolytics...

 used in modern anaesthesia, to facilitate endotracheal intubation and to provide skeletal muscle

Skeletal muscle

Skeletal muscle is a form of striated muscle tissue existing under control of the somatic nervous system- i.e. it is voluntarily controlled. It is one of three major muscle types, the others being cardiac and smooth muscle...

 relaxation during surgery

Surgery

Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...

 or mechanical ventilation

Mechanical ventilation

In medicine, mechanical ventilation is a method to mechanically assist or replace spontaneous breathing. This may involve a machine called a ventilator or the breathing may be assisted by a physician, respiratory therapist or other suitable person compressing a bag or set of bellows...

.

Introduced in 1994, rocuronium has rapid onset, and intermediate duration of action. It is marketed under the trade name of Zemuron in the United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 and Esmeron in most other countries.

There is considered to be some risk of allergic reaction to the drug in occasional patients (particularly those with asthma

Asthma

Asthma is the common chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and bronchospasm. Symptoms include wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath...

), but a similar incidence of allergic reactions has been observed by using other members of the same drug class (non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking drugs). The drug is commonly used in modern anaesthesia.

The γ-cyclodextrin

Cyclodextrin

Cyclodextrins are a family of compounds made up of sugar molecules bound together in a ring ....

 derivative sugammadex

Sugammadex

Sugammadex is an agent for reversal of neuromuscular blockade by the agent rocuronium in general anaesthesia. It is the first selective relaxant binding agent and was discovered at the Newhouse research site in Scotland. . These scientists who discovered Sugammadex worked for the pharmaceutical...

(trade name Bridion) has been recently introduced as a novel agent to reverse the action of rocuronium.