RT Book, Section
A1 Panus, Peter C.
A1 Jobst, Erin E.
A1 Masters, Susan B.
A1 Katzung, Bertram
A1 Tinsley, Suzanne L.
A1 Trevor, Anthony J.
SR Print(0)
ID 6095608
T1 Chapter 33. Skeletal Muscle Relaxants
T2 Pharmacology for the Physical Therapist
YR 2009
FD 2009
PB The McGraw-Hill Companies
PP New York, NY
SN 978-0-07-146043-9
LK accessphysiotherapy.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=6095608
RD 2024/04/19
AB Drugs  that  affect  skeletal  muscles  fall  into  two  major  therapeutic  groups:  those  used  during  surgical  procedures  and  in  intensive  care  units  to  cause  paralysis  (i.e.,  neuromuscular  blockers),  and  those  used  to  reduce  spasticity  in  a  variety  of  neurologic  conditions  or  to  reduce  muscle  spasm  following  muscle  injury  or  inflammation  (i.e.,  spasmolytics)  (Figure  33–1).  Neuromuscular  blocking  drugs  interfere  with  transmission  at  the  neuromuscular  end  plate  and  lack  central  nervous  system  activity.  These  compounds  are  used  primarily  as  adjuncts  to  general  anesthesia.  Drugs  in  the  spasmolytic  group  have  traditionally  been  called  “centrally  acting”  muscle  relaxants  because  most  of  them  act  at  multiple  sites  in  the  central  nervous  system  (CNS)  rather  than  at  the  neuromuscular  end  plate.  However,  two  spasmolytic  drugs—dantrolene  and  botulinum  toxin—act  in  or  near  skeletal  muscle  with  no  significant  central  effects.  Spasmolytic  drugs  (with  one  exception)  do  not  prevent  muscle  contraction  but  rather  decrease  neuronal  excitability.  For  basic  and  clinical  pharmacology  of  neuromuscular  blocking  drugs,  see  Chapter  5.