Abstract
Though in the last few decades only a few new drugs have come available for the treatment of spasticity, new insights may revise the role and individual value of several pharmacological treatments. Diazepam, baclofen and tizanidine are the most prescribed drugs for the treatment of spasticity. Intrathecal baclofen and local infiltration of botulin toxin are added values in selective patients. Gabapentin is a novelty, and the working mechanism of cannabis has been elucidated. Dantrolene sodium appears to owe its selectivity from the recently discovered ryanodine receptor, with a peripheral effect in muscles. In this review the pathophysiology and epidemiology of spasticity, pharmacology, clinical efficacy and unwanted effects of the different drugs for spasticity are updated.
MeSH terms
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Amines / pharmacology
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Amines / therapeutic use
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Baclofen / pharmacology
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Baclofen / therapeutic use
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Botulinum Toxins / pharmacology
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Botulinum Toxins / therapeutic use
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Calcium Channel Blockers / pharmacology
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Calcium Channel Blockers / therapeutic use
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Clonidine / analogs & derivatives
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Clonidine / pharmacology
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Clonidine / therapeutic use
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Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / pharmacology
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Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / therapeutic use
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Dantrolene / pharmacology
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Dantrolene / therapeutic use
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Diazepam / pharmacology
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Diazepam / therapeutic use
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Gabapentin
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Humans
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Muscle Relaxants, Central / pharmacology*
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Muscle Relaxants, Central / therapeutic use*
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Muscle Spasticity / drug therapy*
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Muscle Spasticity / epidemiology
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Muscle Spasticity / physiopathology*
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Recovery of Function / drug effects*
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Treatment Outcome
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gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / pharmacology
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gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / therapeutic use
Substances
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Amines
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Calcium Channel Blockers
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Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids
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Muscle Relaxants, Central
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gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
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tizanidine
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Gabapentin
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Botulinum Toxins
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Dantrolene
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Baclofen
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Clonidine
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Diazepam