Shortage of injectable atracurium

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists has reported a shortage of injectable atracurium. This shortage is a result of the voluntary shutdown of Ben Venue Labs, a contract manufacturing company. In this instance they were the only manufacturer of injectable atracurium under contract with Bedford Laboratories. This and other members of this group prevent the skeletal muscles of the body from contracting and interfering during surgery and when inserting a tube down the windpipe to assist breathing. Shortages increase the chance of dosing errors because the various members of the group have varying durations of their effects.