Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Directly Acting Muscle Relaxants: Dantrolene and Botulinum Toxin01:26

Directly Acting Muscle Relaxants: Dantrolene and Botulinum Toxin

Directly acting muscle relaxants like dantrolene and botulinum toxin (BoNT) have distinct mechanisms and applications. Dantrolene, a hydantoin derivative, acts on the ryanodine receptor (RYR1) in skeletal muscle cells. RYR1 are calcium channels present at the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane. In response to excitation, they release calcium ions from the sarcoplasmic reticulum to the cytosol. Calcium promotes actin-myosin-mediated contraction of muscles.
The binding of dantrolene to the RYR1...
Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Therapeutic Uses01:31

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Therapeutic Uses

Skeletal muscle relaxants are used to relax muscle tone and alleviate painful muscle contractions. However, the choice of skeletal muscle relaxants depends on the duration of the surgical procedure in order to minimize potential side effects. Skeletal muscle relaxants like neuromuscular blocking agents [NMBAs] are commonly employed as adjuvants alongside general anesthetics in clinical settings. NMBAs are also used to maintain controlled ventilation during surgery of the larynx or pharynx as...
Analgesia and Pain Management01:25

Analgesia and Pain Management

Pain is critical to various clinical pathologies, provoking an urgent need for effective management. Pain, whether acute or chronic, is a complex neurochemical process. Its alleviation depends on the type, with nonopioid analgesics effective for mild to moderate pain, such as musculoskeletal or inflammatory pain, while neuropathic pain responds best to anticonvulsants, tricyclic antidepressants, or serotonin/norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors. For severe acute or chronic pain, opioids may be...
Pain01:20

Pain

Pain serves as a critical warning signal that alerts the body to potential or actual harm. When mechanical pressure on the skin is intense, such as from a sharp pinch, the sensation transitions from touch to pain. Similarly, extreme temperatures, like a hot pot handle, convert the sensation of heat into pain. Pain can also result from overstimulation of other senses, such as blinding light, loud noise, or the intense heat from habañero peppers. This ability to sense pain is essential for...
Classification of Skeletal Muscle Relaxants01:28

Classification of Skeletal Muscle Relaxants

Skeletal muscle relaxants are a group of drugs that can reduce muscle stiffness and induce temporary paralysis to relieve pain. These agents can act centrally to reduce muscle tone or spasms in painful conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or spinal injuries; they are called antispasmodics or spasmolytics.
Peripherally acting skeletal muscle relaxants interfere with the neurotransmission at the neuromuscular end plate to induce paralysis during...
Peripherally and Centrally Acting Muscle Relaxants: A Comparison01:09

Peripherally and Centrally Acting Muscle Relaxants: A Comparison

Skeletal muscle relaxants can target the central nervous system [CNS] to reduce muscle tension or act directly at the neuromuscular junction to induce temporary paralysis. These two classes of muscle relaxants are called centrally acting muscle relaxants and peripherally acting muscle relaxants. They differ in their action, mechanism, administration route, and clinical uses.
Centrally acting muscle relaxants can be further divided into spasmolytic and antispasmodic drugs. Spasmolytic drugs,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Consensus Guidelines for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring in Neuropsychopharmacology: Update 2026 - Pharmacokinetic, pharmacogenetic and clinical aspects.

Pharmacopsychiatry·2026
Same author

The German Parkinson expert meetings.

Journal of neural transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996)·2026
Same author

Editorial: Cognition in Parkinson's disease.

Frontiers in cognition·2026
Same author

Beyond "Advanced": proposing Fluctuation-Dominant Parkinson's disease as a functional alternative to enable timely device-aided therapy.

Journal of neural transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996)·2026
Same author

Real-World Safety and Effectiveness of 24-Hour Foslevodopa/Foscarbidopa in Parkinson's Disease: ROSSINI Study 6-Month Interim Results.

Neurology and therapy·2026
Same author

Are We Heading into a Dead End, or Are We Treading Water?

Toxins·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Development of Recombinant Proteins to Treat Chronic Pain
10:37

Development of Recombinant Proteins to Treat Chronic Pain

Published on: April 11, 2018

[Botulinum toxin in pain therapy].

Wolfgang H Jost1

  • 1Deutsche Klinik für Diagnostik, Wiesbaden. jost.neuro@dkd-wiesbaden.de

MMW Fortschritte Der Medizin
|December 11, 2007
PubMed
Summary

Current pain therapies are often inadequate. Botulinum toxin for myofascial pain and headaches shows variable efficacy, requiring further study before widespread clinical use.

Area of Science:

  • Pain management and therapy
  • Neurology
  • Pharmacology

Context:

  • Available pain treatment methods are frequently insufficient for patient needs.
  • Botulinum toxin is increasingly used for myofascial pain and chronic headaches.
  • Assessing the efficacy of botulinum toxin in clinical practice and research presents challenges due to variable outcomes.

Purpose:

  • To evaluate the current status and challenges in using botulinum toxin for pain therapy.
  • To highlight the need for standardized efficacy assessments.
  • To provide guidance on the appropriate use of botulinum toxin pending further research.

Summary:

  • The efficacy of botulinum toxin in treating myofascial pain and chronic headaches is highly variable.
  • Current data is insufficient for a definitive evaluation of its therapeutic value.

More Related Videos

The Sciatic Nerve Cuffing Model of Neuropathic Pain in Mice
07:09

The Sciatic Nerve Cuffing Model of Neuropathic Pain in Mice

Published on: July 16, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Development of Recombinant Proteins to Treat Chronic Pain
10:37

Development of Recombinant Proteins to Treat Chronic Pain

Published on: April 11, 2018

The Sciatic Nerve Cuffing Model of Neuropathic Pain in Mice
07:09

The Sciatic Nerve Cuffing Model of Neuropathic Pain in Mice

Published on: July 16, 2014

  • Consistent, high-quality studies are needed to establish reliable treatment protocols.

    • Impact:

    • Recommends limiting botulinum toxin use to clinical trials and specialized centers.
    • Highlights the need for further research to optimize pain management strategies.
    • Informs clinicians about the current limitations and uncertainties regarding botulinum toxin efficacy.