The effect of pancuronium on the solubility of aqueous thiopentone.

In this study we identified the precipitate formed when pancuronium bromide (pH 3.9) and sodium thiopentone (pH 10.6) are combined in vitro. A precipitate formed when sufficient pancuronium was added to thiopentone to decrease the pH below 9.25. The precipitate was isolated, redissolved in alkaline solution and identified as thiopentone using ultraviolet spectrophotometry. Pancuronium was soluble in water in the pH range of 2.0 to 12.0, whereas thiopentone was soluble in water only at a pH greater than 9.90. We conclude that thiopentone precipitates when combined with pancuronium because of a pH-dependent decrease in the solubility of thiopentone, rather than a chemical interaction.