What are muscle relaxants used in osteochondrosis – updated list

One of the manifestations of back pain is spasm of the muscles in the spinal column. This spasm causes pain and the formation of pathological posture. To apply medications that reduce muscle spasms.

Types of medications that affect muscle tone

In humans there are two types of muscle: smooth and skeletal. Smooth muscle is concentrated in the walls of internal organs, e.g., intestine or bronchi. Skeletal muscle, as the name implies, is the muscles that control the movement of the bones, including the spine.

Medication, relieves spasms of smooth muscles, can relieve spasms of skeletal and Vice versa. Drugs relaxing smooth muscles, among others are papaverine, drotaverine (no-Spa).

When used osteoarthritis medication, relieves spasms of skeletal muscles. This class of drugs called muscle relaxants Central action. There are also muscle relaxants peripheral actions, which are used in General anesthesia.

Muscle relaxants Central actions

A List of Central muscle relaxants, are available on the Russian pharmaceutical market consists of three chemicals: baclofen (trade name "Baclofen"), tizanidine ("Sirdalud", "Chiseled", "Titanyl"), tolperizon ("Mydocalm", "Typereal", "Tolperison-OBL"). In the US this list is much wider. It also includes dantrolene, carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine and other drugs.

Historically, the first drug of this group is carisoprodol. It is used since late 50-ies. Interestingly, his discovery was largely by accident. Scientists have tried to synthesize antibacterial drug, but it turned out the drug, relaxing the muscles.

Drugs in this group have an effect on the level of the spinal cord and brain, blocking the signals that command the muscles to contract. Relaxation of the muscles reduces pain and a General feeling of discomfort. It is proved that the combination of the anesthetic medication and drugs that relieves spasms, removes pain more effective than pain medication in itself.

Muscle relaxants can be administered through injections (injections) or pills. Usually the treatment is started with minimum dose, if necessary, increase it.

What are the side effects when taking

Like most other drugs, muscle relaxants Central actions have side effects. However, experiencing them, not all. The severity of side effects is often reduced as the body adapts to the new medication.

The Most common side effects with the use of baclofen be considered a General weakness, nausea, dizziness, headache, dryness of the mucous membranes of the mouth, muscle pain, poor sleep, excessive sweating, skin rashes.

If you are using tizanidine: dizziness, fatigue, dry mouth, or feeling, skin rash.

Adverse effects of tolperisone include: insomnia, dizziness, low blood pressure, dry mouth, fatigue, skin rash.

Please note that with the most complete list of side effects can be found only in the leaflet (attached instruction) to the drug.

Contraindications

Most people can take muscle relaxants in osteochondrosis. But these medicines should not be used for those who suffer from severe liver disease (cirrhosis or hepatitis), patients suffering from myasthenia gravis, lactating women. Baclofen should not be taken during gastric ulcer.

Reliable data on the effects of relaxing skeletal muscles, on the fetus during pregnancy does not exist. Therefore, use of baclofen, tizanidine and tolperisone during pregnancy is allowed only in cases of extreme need.

Special instructions

Given that muscle relaxants can cause dizziness, weakness, or feeling, at their reception should refrain from driving and other activities, where especially important is the attention and quick response.

Treatment with baclofen must not be interrupted abruptly. Should be a gradual reduction in the dose taken over several weeks.

Thus, muscle relaxants are a class of auxiliary medicines painful spasm of skeletal muscles, in particular, osteochondrosis.

These drugs are proven to combat pain syndrome and relatively rare side effects the ingestion and injecting introduction. However, to prescribe muscle relaxants in osteochondrosis can only be a doctor with the clinical picture of the disease and General health of the patient.