Antispastic agent

The antispastic agents are treatments for muscle spasms which specialists call muscle spasticity. This is a problem involving excessive permanent increase in muscle tone at rest. Most neurological problems are accompanied by spasticity.

The different antispastic agents

Spasticity is managed with medicines, physiotherapy and possibly surgery. There are four current types of antispastic agents:

• dantrolene;
• baclofen;
• benzodiazepines;
• tizadinine.

Another well known substance, botulinum toxin, can be injected into the muscles to reduce their traction force and this is unequal in joints and to prevent irreducible retractions. Each of these treatments has its own side effects.

Source:

• Merck Manuel, 4^th edition
• Afssaps website consulted on 5 August 2011