Bridion 100 mg/mL solution for injection (sugammadex) – reversal of muscle relaxation after surgery

Bridion contains sugammadex, a medicine that selectively binds the muscle relaxants rocuronium bromide and vecuronium bromide. These relaxants are given during general anaesthesia so that the muscles are fully relaxed, but they also relax the breathing muscles, so mechanical ventilation is needed.

Bridion binds the relaxant in the body and so speeds up muscle recovery after surgery, allowing the patient to breathe independently sooner. The medicine is a solution for injection (100 mg/mL) given by an anaesthetist or under their supervision, in hospital only.

What is Bridion for and how is it used during anaesthesia?

Key facts about the medicine

What is Bridion used for?

Bridion is used to speed up recovery from the effect of muscle relaxants after surgery:

• in adults – when rocuronium bromide or vecuronium bromide has been used
• in children and adolescents aged 2 to 17 years – when rocuronium bromide has been used for a moderate level of relaxation

How is it given and dosed?

• The medicine is given by the anaesthetist as a single injection through an intravenous line.
• The dose depends on body weight and how strongly the relaxant is still working: usually 2–4 mg/kg.
• In adults, when urgent recovery from the relaxant is needed, 16 mg/kg may be given.
• Children and adolescents aged 2 to 17 years: 2 mg/kg.

The dose is decided and given only by the anaesthetist.

Special patient groups

• Children under 2 years: use is not recommended.
• Impaired kidney function: the medicine is excreted by the kidneys; in severe impairment (creatinine clearance below 30 mL/min, including dialysis) use is not recommended (SmPC).
• Liver disease and fluid retention (oedema): tell the anaesthetist.
• Bleeding disorders or anticoagulant therapy: tell the anaesthetist.

Contraindications – when the medicine must not be used

• allergy (hypersensitivity) to sugammadex or any of the excipients

Warnings and precautions

• Before treatment tell the anaesthetist if you have or have had kidney or liver disease, oedema or a bleeding disorder.
• Muscle relaxation may return after surgery – the anaesthetist monitors the patient.
• The medicine may affect blood test results for progesterone – talk to your doctor if this test is done on the same day.
• The medicine contains up to 9.7 mg sodium per mL (about 0.5% of the recommended maximum daily intake for adults).

Interactions with other medicines, food and drink

• Toremifene (a breast cancer medicine) and fusidic acid (an antibiotic) may reduce the effect of Bridion – tell the anaesthetist if you have taken them recently.
• Hormonal contraception: the reduction in progestogen is roughly equal to missing one pill. If you took your pill on the day Bridion was given, follow the missed-pill instructions; with a ring, implant or hormonal IUD use an additional non-hormonal method (e.g. a condom) for 7 days.
• The medicine generally does not affect laboratory tests, except progesterone tests.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, are planning a pregnancy or are breast-feeding, talk to your doctor or anaesthetist – the medicine may still be given, but this should be discussed first. It is not known whether sugammadex passes into breast milk; the anaesthetist will help decide whether to stop breast-feeding or to avoid the medicine.

Driving and using machines

Bridion has no known effect on the ability to drive or use machines (the doctor will advise on driving after anaesthesia and surgery).

Possible side effects

If side effects occur during anaesthesia, the anaesthetist will notice and manage them.

• Common: cough; airway difficulties (coughing, movement or taking a breath as if waking up); light anaesthesia – the patient starts to wake up and more anaesthetic is needed; complications during the procedure (changes in heart rate, coughing, moving); drop in blood pressure due to the surgical procedure.
• Uncommon: bronchospasm in patients with lung problems; allergic reactions (rash, redness, swelling of the tongue or throat, shortness of breath, changes in blood pressure or pulse, sometimes a serious drop in blood pressure) – severe reactions can be life-threatening; return of muscle relaxation after surgery.
• Frequency not known: serious slowing of the heart rate, up to cardiac arrest.

Report suspected side effects to your doctor or ALIMS.

Overdose, missed dose and stopping treatment

• Overdose: the anaesthetist closely monitors the patient, so overdose is unlikely; even if it happens, it is unlikely to cause problems.
• Missed dose and stopping treatment: not applicable – the medicine is given once during anaesthesia.

Related information

Ask your anaesthetist about preparing for surgery and recovering from anaesthesia; non-prescription products do not replace a medicine used in hospital.

Composition, pack and manufacturer

• Active substance: sugammadex (as sugammadex sodium) – 100 mg/mL; 200 mg in a 2 mL vial.
• Excipients: hydrochloric acid 3.7% and/or sodium hydroxide (for pH adjustment); water for injections.
• Pack: carton with 10 colourless glass vials of 2 mL solution.
• Marketing authorisation holder: MERCK SHARP & DOHME D.O.O., Omladinskih brigada 90a/1400, Belgrade. Manufacturer: N.V. ORGANON, Kloosterstraat 6, Oss, the Netherlands.

Storage

• Store below 30 °C in the original pack to protect from light. Do not freeze.
• After opening and dilution, store at 2–8 °C and use within 24 hours.
• Storage is the responsibility of healthcare professionals; shelf life: 3 years.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Bridion given at the end of surgery?

To quickly reverse the effect of the muscle relaxant (rocuronium or vecuronium) given during anaesthesia, so that the patient can breathe independently sooner.

Does Bridion affect contraception?

Yes. It reduces the progestogen from hormonal contraception roughly as much as one missed pill. With a ring, implant or hormonal IUD, an additional non-hormonal method (e.g. a condom) is needed for the next 7 days.

Can Bridion be given to children?

Yes, to children and adolescents aged 2 to 17 at a dose of 2 mg/kg when rocuronium was given for a moderate level of relaxation. It is not recommended in children under 2.

Who decides the dose?

The anaesthetist, based on body weight and how strongly the relaxant is still working; usually 2–4 mg/kg.

Sources

• ALIMS – Patient leaflet Bridion®, 100 mg/mL, solution for injection (November 2020, Serbian)
• ALIMS – Summary of Product Characteristics Bridion®, 100 mg/mL, solution for injection (Serbian)

Sources checked on: 25 October 2026.