[The use of sirdalud MR in patients with multiple sclerosis]

The study included 54 patients with multiple sclerosis, aged from 23 to 53 years (mean age 37.7 +/- 8.5 years). To reduce muscle tension, 34 patients of the main group received tizanidine with the modified release of active substance (sirdalud MR) in dosage one capsule (6 mg) per day. Twenty-two patients of the comparison group received a standard form of tizanidine--sirdalud in tablets (2 mg) 3 times daily. Patients were examined at baseline, 1, 2 and 4 weeks of the treatment and 2 weeks after the end of the trial. The use of different forms of sirdalud had no effect on disability (the EDSS) scores in patients. Spasticity scores (the Ashworth scale) were decreased during the treatment with different forms of sirdalud but sirdalud MR had more stable effect which remained for 2 weeks after the end of treatment (p < 0.05). Significant differences were observed between tolerability of two forms: side-effects (sleepiness, asthenia) were more frequents in patients treated with the standard form of sirdalud (p < 0.05), the rate of their reduction was significantly higher in the sirdalud MR group (p < 0.05).