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Chapter-09 Skeletal Muscle Relaxants

BOOK TITLE: Textbook of Pharmacology for Dental and Allied Health Sciences

Author
1. Udaykumar Padmaja
ISBN
9788184481495
DOI
10.5005/jp/books/10941_9
Edition
2/e
Publishing Year
2007
Pages
6
Author Affiliations
1. Father Muller Medical College, Mangaluru, Karnataka, India
Chapter keywords

Abstract

Skeletal muscle relaxants are drugs that reduce the muscle tone either by acting peripherally at the neuromuscular junction or centrally in the cerebrospinal axis or directly on the contractile mechanism. They reduce the spasticity in a variety of neurological conditions and are also useful in surgeries. Tubocurarine obtained form Chondrodendron tomentosum is an alkaloid which competitively blocks the actions of acetylcholine. On parenteral administration it causes muscular weakness followed by flaccid paralysis. Neostigmine may be used as the antidote in curare poisoning. Synthetic neuromuscular blockers have several advantages over tubocurarine. Succinyl choline is a depolarizing blocker with a rapid onset of action. Peripherally acting muscle relaxants are used as adjuvants to anesthesia, in electroconvulsive therapy and in spastic disorders. Centrally acting muscle relaxants act on higher centers and cause muscle relaxation. Dantrolene directly affects the skeletal muscle contractile mechanisms. Several drugs are used for the treatment of local muscle spasms.

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