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

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...
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...
Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Adverse Effects01:21

Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Adverse Effects

Skeletal muscle relaxants are widely used for muscle paralysis and relieving pain following any muscle injury or stiffness. However, depending on the drug type, they can have adverse effects that range from mild to severe. Usually, nondepolarizing neuromuscular blockers have minimal side effects. For example, drugs like d-tubocurarine, cisatracurium, and rocuronium cause hypotension, whereas drugs like baclofen, when stopped abruptly, can lead to the recurrence of spastic conditions.
Unlike...
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,...
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...
Centrally Acting Muscle Relaxants: Therapeutic Uses01:24

Centrally Acting Muscle Relaxants: Therapeutic Uses

Centrally acting muscle relaxants reduce muscle tone and tension by interfering with the postsynaptic reflexes in the central nervous system.
Centrally acting drugs are classified into spasmolytic and antispasmodic drugs. Spasmolytic drugs such as baclofen, diazepam, and tizanidine inhibit spinal motor neurons and decrease muscle tone. Spasmolytic drugs are administered for severe and chronic spasms due to multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, stroke, and spinal cord and muscle injuries. However,...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

A Review of the Safety and Efficacy of Apixaban in Patients With Severe Renal Impairment.

The Senior care pharmacist·2023
Same author

Enhancing Student Confidence in Diabetes Management Skills through Pharmacist-Run Group Classes in a Community Library.

Innovations in pharmacy·2022
Same author

Addressing Clinical and Therapeutic Inertia Through Comprehensive Medication Review.

The Senior care pharmacist·2022
Same author

Late-Onset Dystonia With Low-Dose Olanzapine in an Older Person: A Case Report.

The Senior care pharmacist·2021
Same author

Pain Management in Primary Care: A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Computerized Decision Support Tool.

The American journal of medicine·2021
Same author

Using Clinical Decision Support Within the Electronic Health Record to Reduce Incorrect Prescribing for Acute Sinusitis.

Journal of patient-centered research and reviews·2019

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Mechanical Control of Relaxation Using Intact Cardiac Trabeculae
07:51

Mechanical Control of Relaxation Using Intact Cardiac Trabeculae

Published on: February 17, 2023

Choosing a skeletal muscle relaxant.

Sharon See1, Regina Ginzburg

  • 1St. John's University College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions, Jamaica, New York 11439, USA. sees@stjohns.edu

American Family Physician
|August 21, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Skeletal muscle relaxants offer short-term relief for acute low back pain when other options fail. However, evidence is limited, and choices should prioritize side effects and patient factors over proven superiority.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Musculoskeletal Medicine
  • Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

  • Skeletal muscle relaxants are frequently prescribed for musculoskeletal conditions.
  • Existing evidence for their efficacy often stems from methodologically weak studies.
  • These agents have not demonstrated superiority over acetaminophen or NSAIDs for low back pain.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness and comparative data of skeletal muscle relaxants.
  • To inform clinical decision-making regarding the use of these medications.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic reviews and meta-analyses were examined.
  • Comparison studies of different skeletal muscle relaxants were assessed.
  • Effectiveness and adverse effect profiles were analyzed.

More Related Videos

Ex Vivo Assessment of Contractility, Fatigability and Alternans in Isolated Skeletal Muscles
14:02

Ex Vivo Assessment of Contractility, Fatigability and Alternans in Isolated Skeletal Muscles

Published on: November 1, 2012

Application of Consistent Massage-Like Perturbations on Mouse Calves and Monitoring the Resulting Intramuscular Pressure Changes
07:49

Application of Consistent Massage-Like Perturbations on Mouse Calves and Monitoring the Resulting Intramuscular Pressure Changes

Published on: September 20, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Mechanical Control of Relaxation Using Intact Cardiac Trabeculae
07:51

Mechanical Control of Relaxation Using Intact Cardiac Trabeculae

Published on: February 17, 2023

Ex Vivo Assessment of Contractility, Fatigability and Alternans in Isolated Skeletal Muscles
14:02

Ex Vivo Assessment of Contractility, Fatigability and Alternans in Isolated Skeletal Muscles

Published on: November 1, 2012

Application of Consistent Massage-Like Perturbations on Mouse Calves and Monitoring the Resulting Intramuscular Pressure Changes
07:49

Application of Consistent Massage-Like Perturbations on Mouse Calves and Monitoring the Resulting Intramuscular Pressure Changes

Published on: September 20, 2019

Main Results:

  • Systematic reviews support short-term use for acute low back pain if other analgesics are ineffective or not tolerated.
  • No single skeletal muscle relaxant has proven superior to others in comparative studies.
  • Cyclobenzaprine is well-studied; tizanidine and cyclobenzaprine offer sedation benefits, while methocarbamol and metaxalone are less sedating but have limited evidence.
  • Common adverse effects include dizziness and drowsiness.

Conclusions:

  • Skeletal muscle relaxants can be useful for acute low back pain but lack strong evidence of superiority.
  • Selection should be individualized based on side effect profiles, patient preference, and drug interactions.
  • Clear communication of potential adverse effects to patients is crucial.