Pharmacology Muscle Relaxants Flashcards
What is the primary goal of muscle relaxers
Selectively decrease muscle excitability
What is meant by selectively decreasing excitability
Only decrease excitability of the muscles with too much excitability
Muscle spasm
Result of an injury to a muscle or a peripheral nerve, causes a tonic contraction.
What is a tonic contraction
A sustained Strong solid contraction over time
Muscle spasticity
Damage to the CNS resulting in exaggerated Stretch reflexes
What agents are used to treat muscle spasms
Polysynaptic inhibitors
Diazepam (Valium)
What are Polysynaptic inhibitors
They act on the Polysynaptic reflex arc to decrease excitability of alpha motor neuron
Common Polysynaptic inhibitor names
Carisoprodol Chlorophenesin Chlorzoxazone Cyclobenzaprine Metaxalone Methocarbamol Orphenadrine citrate
How do anti-spasm drugs work
Work through sedative effect
What shoulder be coupled with anti-spasm drugs during rehab
Aggressive PT
When and how should anti-spasm drugs be taken away
ASAP (3-4 days), and then use PT to continue anti-spasm effects
What type of agent is diazepam and what was it originally made for
Benzodiazepine, made as an anti-anxiey first
How does Diazepam(valium) work
Increases the inhibitory effects of GABA.
How does Valium increase the effects of GABA
GABA binds to the BDR protein allowing Cl- to enter the muscle making the muscle more negative and harder to excite. The Valium increases the binding of GABA so it can stay on the BDR protein longer and allow more Cl- to enter.
What is a draw back of Valium
Excess amounts will cause sedation