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Fifty patients undergoing routine surgery were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 were pretreated with a small (10-mg) dose of suxamethonium ("self-taming") before administration of suxamethonium 1 mg kg-1, while group 2 received no pretreatment. Potassium concentrations were measured immediately before induction of anaesthesia and, subsequently, for 7 min. A small increase in mean plasma potassium concentration was seen in the group who were not pretreated, while the patients who received a "self-taming" dose of suxamethonium showed a sustained decrease below pre-induction values. Mean plasma potassium concentrations were significantly less in the "self-taming" group than in the group not pretreated.

Muscle fasciculations and pain following the administration of suxamethonium were assessed in a group of patients who performed a series of stretch exercises approximately 1 h before operation. Comparison was made with a group who received suxamethonium but no pretreatment. Fasciculations were significantly reduced in the exercised group, and the incidence of muscle pain decreased from 52% in the untreated group to 12% in the exercised group. A significant relationship was shown between the severity of visible fasciculations and muscle pain.