In medicine, quite often there are situations when it is necessary to relax muscle fibers. For these purposes, muscle relaxants are used . Drugs injected into the body block neuromuscular impulses, and the striated muscles relax.
Medicines of this group are often used in surgery, to relieve seizures, before setting a joint dislocation, and even with exacerbations of osteochondrosis.
The mechanism of action of drugs
With severe pain in the muscles, a spasm may occur, as a result, movements in the joints are limited, which can lead to complete immobility. This issue is especially acute in osteochondrosis. A constant spasm interferes with the proper functioning of muscle fibers, and, accordingly, the treatment is extended indefinitely.
To bring the patient’s general state of health to a normal state, muscle relaxants are prescribed. Preparations for osteochondrosis are quite able to relax the muscles and reduce the inflammatory process.
Given the properties of muscle relaxants, we can say that they find their application at any stage of treatment of osteochondrosis. The following procedures proceed more efficiently when using them:
- Massage. Relaxed muscles respond best to exposure.
- Manual therapy. It's no secret that the impact of a doctor is more effective and safer, the more relaxed the muscles.
- Spinal traction.
- Physiotherapeutic procedures.
- The effect of painkillers is increasing.
If you often have muscle cramps, or you suffer from osteochondrosis, then you should not prescribe muscle relaxants yourself, drugs in this group should be prescribed only by a doctor. The fact is that they have a fairly extensive list of contraindications and side effects, so only a doctor can choose the medicine for you.
Classification of muscle relaxants
The division of drugs of this group into different categories can be considered from different points of view. If we talk about what muscle relaxants are, the classification is different. Analyzing the mechanism of action on the human body, only two types can be distinguished:
- Peripheral drugs.
- Central muscle relaxants.
Medications can have a different duration of effect, depending on this, they emit:
- Ultrashort action.
- Short.
- Middle.
- Lasting.
Only a doctor can know exactly which drug is best for you in each case, so do not self-medicate.
Peripheral muscle relaxants
Able to block nerve impulses that pass to muscle fibers. They are widely used: during anesthesia, with convulsions, with paralysis during tetanus.
Muscle relaxants, drugs of peripheral action, can be divided into the following groups:
- Non-depolarizing. These include: “Arduan”, “Melliktin”, “Diplacin” and others.
- Depolarizing - "Dithilin".
- Mixed muscle relaxants. The names are different, for example, "Dixonium."
All these drugs affect cholinergic receptors in skeletal muscle, and therefore effective in muscle cramps and pain. They act softly enough, which allows them to be used in various surgical interventions.
Central action drugs
The muscle relaxants of this group can also be divided into the following types, given their chemical composition:
- Derivatives of glycerol. This is Meprotan, Prenderol, Isoprotan.
- Based on benzimidazole - "Flexin".
- Mixed preparations, for example, Midokalm, Baclofen.
Central muscle relaxants are able to block reflexes that have many synapses in muscle tissue. They do this by reducing the activity of inserted neurons in the spinal cord. These drugs not only relax, but have a wider effect, which is why their use is associated with the treatment of various diseases that are accompanied by increased muscle tone.
These muscle relaxants have virtually no effect on monosynaptic reflexes, so they can be used to relieve muscle spasm and at the same time do not turn off natural respiration.
If you are prescribed muscle relaxants (drugs), the names can meet such:
- "Metacarbamol".
- "Baclofen."
- Tolperizon.
- "Tizanidine" and others.
It is better to start taking medications under the supervision of a doctor.
The principle of using muscle relaxants
If we talk about the use of these drugs in anesthesiology, we can note the following principles:
- The use of muscle relaxants is necessary only when the patient is unconscious.
- The use of such drugs significantly facilitates the mechanical ventilation of the lungs.
- To remove muscle tone is not the most important thing, the main task is to carry out comprehensive measures for the implementation of gas exchange and maintaining blood circulation.
- If muscle relaxants are used during anesthesia, this does not exclude the use of anesthetics.
When the drugs of this group firmly entered into medicine, it was safe to talk about the beginning of a new era in anesthesiology. Their use allowed us to simultaneously solve several problems:
- Not only to immobilize the patient, but also to relax the muscles well, which allows any surgical intervention.
- There was a possibility of holding mechanical ventilation.
- The process of intubation of the trachea was significantly facilitated.
- Muscle tremors can be prevented when artificial hypothermia is performed.
- The action of muscle relaxants is also aimed at relieving muscle spasm in tetanus, convulsions, rabies and other diseases.
After introducing such drugs into practice, anesthesiology got the opportunity to become an independent industry.
Scope of muscle relaxants
Given that the substances from this group of drugs have an extensive effect on the body, they are widely used in medical practice. You can list the following areas:
- In the treatment of neurological diseases that are accompanied by increased tone.
- If muscle relaxants (drugs) are used, lower back pain will also recede.
- Before surgery in the abdominal cavity.
- During complex diagnostic procedures for certain diseases.
- In the process of electroconvulsive therapy.
- When conducting anesthesiology without disabling natural breathing.
- For the prevention of complications after injuries.
- Muscle relaxants (drugs) for osteochondrosis are often prescribed to patients.
- To facilitate the recovery process after spinal surgery.
- The presence of an intervertebral hernia is also an indication for taking muscle relaxants.
Despite such an extensive list of the use of these drugs, you should not prescribe them yourself, without consulting a doctor.
Side effects after taking
If you have been prescribed muscle relaxants (drugs), lower back pain should definitely leave you alone, only when taking these drugs side effects can be observed. You may not pay attention to some, but there are more serious ones, among them the following should be noted:
- Decreased concentration, which is most dangerous for people sitting behind the wheel of a car.
- Lowering blood pressure.
- Increased nervous irritability.
- Bed-wetting.
- Allergic manifestations.
- Gastrointestinal problems.
- Convulsive conditions.
Especially often, all these manifestations can be diagnosed with the wrong dosage of drugs. This is especially true for antidepolarizing drugs. It is urgent to stop taking them and consult a doctor. An intravenous solution of neostigmine is usually prescribed.
Depolarizing muscle relaxants in this regard are more harmless. When they are canceled, a normalization of the patient's condition is observed, and the use of medications to eliminate symptoms is not required.
You should be careful to take those muscle relaxants (drugs) whose names are unfamiliar to you. In this case, it is better to consult a doctor.
Contraindications
Acceptance of any medications should be started only after consulting a doctor, and these medicines even more so. They have a list of contraindications, including:
- You can not take them to people who have kidney problems.
- Reception is contraindicated for pregnant women and nursing mothers.
- Psychological disorders.
- Alcoholism.
- Epilepsy.
- Parkinson's disease.
- Liver failure.
- Children's age up to 1 year.
- Peptic ulcer.
- Myasthenia gravis
- Allergic reactions to the drug and its components.
As you can see, muscle relaxants (drugs) have many contraindications, so you should not even harm your health and start taking them at your own risk.
Requirements for muscle relaxants
Modern drugs should not only be effective in relieving muscle spasm, but also meet certain requirements:
- The muscle relaxant effect must be selective, that is, simultaneously weaken the increased muscle tone and not suppress tonic impulse. The ability to move independently should be maintained after their admission.
- The safety of muscle relaxants. This quality is especially true if long-term use is necessary. Patients should not lose the ability to work and lead an active lifestyle.
One of these drugs, which practically meets all the requirements, is Midokalm. Perhaps that is why it has been used in medical practice for over 40 years, and not only in our country, but also in many others.
Among the central muscle relaxants, it differs significantly from others for the better. This drug acts on several levels at once: it removes enhanced impulsation, inhibits the formation of action potential in pain receptors, and slows down the conduct of hyperactive reflexes.
As a result of taking the drug, not only muscle tension is reduced, but its vasodilating effect is also observed. This is perhaps the only medicine that relieves spasm of muscle fibers, but does not cause muscle weakness, nor does it interact with alcohol.
Osteochondrosis and muscle relaxants
This disease is quite common in the modern world. Our lifestyle gradually leads to the appearance of back pain, to which we try not to respond. But there comes a moment when pain can no longer be ignored.
We go to the doctor for help, but valuable time is often already lost. The question arises: "Is it possible to use muscle relaxants in diseases of the musculoskeletal system?"
Since one of the symptoms of osteochondrosis is muscle spasm, that is, it is reasonable to talk about the use of drugs to relax spasmodic muscles. During therapy, the following medications from the group of muscle relaxants are most often used.
- Midokalm. It can be used in the treatment of osteochondrosis of any localization. If there are disorders in the cervical region, then this drug eliminates pain, restores and increases the range of motion. Since "Midokalm" has a vasodilating effect, then when it is taken, blood circulation improves, which means recovery is faster.
- Tizanidine or Sirdalud. Eliminates muscle spasm. As with other muscle relaxants, reviews can be heard different, because when taking it, a drop in blood pressure is possible, which in some patients can even lead to fainting conditions. You can also diagnose drowsiness, apathy, dizziness, which can significantly reduce the quality of life.
- "Baclofen." Of all other drugs, it is used less often. This can be explained by a large number of side effects. If applicable, then in the treatment of osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region. In some patients, even mental disorders were observed after discontinuation of this drug . With special care appoint "Baclofen" to elderly patients.
In therapy, it is usually not accepted to take several drugs at the same time. This is intended so that you can immediately identify side effects, if any, and prescribe another medicine.
Any muscle relaxant has its own recommendations for use. This applies not only to the duration and frequency of administration, but also to the dosage. All this should be discussed with you in detail by the doctor.
Almost all drugs are available not only in the form of tablets, but there are also injections. Most often with severe spasm and severe pain, a second form is prescribed for emergency care, that is, in the form of injections. The active substance penetrates the blood faster and begins its therapeutic effect.
Tablets are usually not taken on an empty stomach so as not to harm the mucous membrane. It is necessary to wash down with water. Both injections and tablets are prescribed to be taken twice a day, unless there are special recommendations.
The use of muscle relaxants will only bring the desired effect, if they are used in complex therapy, be sure to combine with physiotherapeutic procedures, therapeutic exercises, massage.
Despite their high effectiveness, it is not worth taking these drugs without first consulting with your doctor. You cannot independently determine which medicine is suitable in your case and will bring greater effect.
Do not forget that there are a lot of contraindications and side effects, which also should not be discounted. Only competent treatment will allow you to forget about pain and spasmodic muscles forever.