Drugs for Muscle Spasms & Spasticity

Question 1

What is a muscle spasm?

Answer 1

involuntary contraction of a muscle or muscle group (tonic motor activity)

Question 2

What is muscle spasticity?

Answer 2

Heightened muscle tone

Question 3

What drugs do we use for pain control, muscle spasms, & muscle spasticity?

Answer 3

Pain control: Aceta, NSAIDs,

Question 4

Muscle Relaxants & Special Considerations (Contraindications, safety, etc.)

Answer 4

Contraindicated w/ concurrent use of:
-ETOH, other CNS drugs
Safety:
-assistance with ambulation
PHYSICAL DEPENDENCE
-must wean slowly if on LT, high-dose therapy

Question 5

What happens to the CNS Effects of Muscle Relaxants over time?

Answer 5

DIMINISH w/ LT therapy, but muscle relaxant effects remain CONSTANT

Question 6

Cyclobenzaprine Used for:

Answer 6

MUSCLE SPASMS (no effect on spasticity)
-Most efficacious drug for muscle spasms and associated pain 
Used in multi-modal pain therapy regimens for abdominal surgery (laparotomy)

Question 7

Cyclobenzaprine MOA:

Answer 7

Acts on the brainstem to reduce tonic motor activity

Question 8

Baclofen (Lioresal) Used for:

Answer 8

MUSCLE SPASTICITY (MS, Cerebral Palsy, spinal cord injures)

Question 9

Baclofen MOA:

Answer 9

Reduce muscle spasticity WITHOUT causing muscle weakness!

Reduce heightened muscle tone

Question 10

Baclofen Administration Considerations

Answer 10

“Start low and go slow!”
MUST SLOWLY INCREASE DOSAGE OVER TIME; up to 3-4 doses/day
Overdose can result in respiratory depression and coma!