Muscle Spasticity Treatments Overview

Muscle Spasticity and Related Treatments

• Spasticity: A condition causing muscles to feel stiff and heavy.
• Spasms: Involuntary tightening or contractions of muscles.
• Polysynaptic inhibitors: Medications that work to reduce muscle spasms and pain by influencing polysynaptic reflexes. Examples include Skelaxin, Robaxin, Soma, and Flerexin.

Medications for Muscle Spasticity and Spasms

• Diazepam (Valium): A central nervous system (CNS) depressant, enhancing GABA effects to induce relaxation and sedation. Side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, sedation, weakness, confusion, and risk of dependence.
• Robaxin: Used for acute conditions of the musculoskeletal system.
• Flerexin: Used for short-term relief of muscle spasms and conditions affecting the musculoskeletal system.
• Dantrium: Influences calcium release in the sarcoplasmic reticulum, preventing muscle contraction and used to counter malignant hyperthermia.
• Baclofen (Lioresal): Works in the spinal cord by inhibiting GABA release, reducing excitatory neurotransmitters, decreasing muscle tone.
• Gabapentin: Mechanism of action unknown; used to treat nerve pain. Side effects include edema, fatigue, ataxia, and dizziness or drowsiness.
• Zanaflex: An alpha-2 adrenergic agonist; inhibits neurotransmitter release in the spinal cord, reducing muscle tone. Used for short-term spasticity due to multiple sclerosis (MS) or spinal cord injuries. Side effects include drowsiness, dry mouth, hypotension, weakness, and fatigue.
• Botox: Blocks acetylcholine release, causing muscle paralysis. Side effects include flu-like symptoms, headaches, muscle weakness, and paralysis to non-target muscles.