<p>Suxamethonium has no effect on the level of consciousness and should not be administered to a patient who is notfullyanesthetized. Suxamethonium should not be administered to patients known to be hypersensitive to the drug. Suxamethonium is contraindicated in patients known to have an inherited atypical plasma cholinesterase activity. An acute transient rise in serum potassium often occurs following the administration of Suxamethonium in normal individuals (usually 0.5 mmol/Litre). But in certain pathological states it may cause excessive increase in serum potassium leading to serious cardiac arrhythmias and cardiac arrest. For this reason, use of Suxamethonium is contraindicated in patients recovering from major trauma, patients recovering from severe burns, patients with neurological deficits involving acute major muscle wasting and patients with pre-existing hyperkalemia. Suxamethonium causes a slight transient rise in intra-ocular pressure, and should therefore not be used in the presence of open eye injuries. The injection is contraindicated in new-born infants, especially in immature neonates.</p>