Are there any drugs that cause paralysis yet the person could breathe on their own?

Orchid · Jul 7, 2009

So, in my novel, I plan to have the antagonist drug the protagonist before attempting to murder his daughter in front of him. The antagonist would want a drug that would cause paralysis (although severe muscle weakness would also work) yet would enable the protangonist to breathe on his own and remain conscious enough to understand what was happening.

Would a muscle relaxant work, or would they prevent the protagonist breathing on his own?

backslashbaby · Jul 7, 2009

I'm pretty sure if you took enough muscle relaxants to paralyze you, you'd have depressed respiration and/or be knocked out.

Was it succinyl choline that could do what you're describing in the right dose? Well, I'd look to the anesthetics in any case. There are some that have you conscious, and they might paralyze you to a certain extent at least. Usually you're very loopy, of course

Kitty Pryde · Jul 7, 2009

succinyl choline completely paralyzes the body, respiratory muscles included, for a very short time (seconds to minutes I believe). Other muscle relaxants do the same AFAIK.

There's a really awesome bad Bruce Willis movie called Hudson Hawk where they paralyze the good guys with curare, from the neck down. But that doesn't work IRL because curare would paralyze your respiratory muscles.

Can't the bad guy just tie him?

Are there any drugs that cause paralysis yet the person could breathe on their own?

Orchid

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backslashbaby

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Kitty Pryde

i luv you giant bear statue

Are there any drugs that cause paralysis yet the person could breathe on their own?

Orchid

.

backslashbaby

~~~~*~~~~

Kitty Pryde

i luv you giant bear statue

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