Skeletal Muscle Relaxants
These drugs relieve muscle spasticity by sedating the CNS and include cyclobenzaprine.
What are centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxants?
These medications relax skeletal muscles by disrupting the transmission of nerve impulses at this structure.
What is the motor end plate?
Parkinson’s symptoms result from decreased dopamine and excess of this neurotransmitter.
What is acetylcholine?
These medications inhibit neuromuscular transmission to prevent seizure activity.
What are anticonvulsants?
These drugs end with “-triptan” and are first-line for moderate to severe migraine attacks.
What are 5-HT receptor agonists?
This type of skeletal muscle relaxant acts directly on the muscle to interfere with calcium ion release.
What is a direct-acting skeletal muscle relaxant? (e.g., dantrolene)
This nondepolarizing agent blocks acetylcholine to prevent muscle contraction while maintaining consciousness.
What is rocuronium?
These early-stage drugs work by inhibiting acetylcholine activity and should be tapered, not stopped suddenly.
What are anticholinergics (benztropine)?
This common anticonvulsant stabilizes nerve cells and requires monitoring phenytoin levels, CBC, calcium, and hepatic functions.
What is phenytoin (hydantoin group)?
Triptans are contraindicated in patients with these two cardiac risk conditions.
What are coronary artery disease and prior stroke?
Baclofen works mainly on this part of the nervous system to reduce muscle spasms.
What is the spinal cord?
This is the only depolarizing agent, used for short-term muscle relaxation during intubation or ECT
What is succinylcholine?
These drugs enhance dopamine effects in severe Parkinson’s disease.
What is levodopa or carbidopa-levodopa?
These long-acting sedatives are now used less often for seizures due to their sedating effect.
What are barbiturates (phenobarbital, mephobarbital)?
This ergot derivative treats and prevents vascular headaches by blocking neurogenic inflammation.
What is ergotamine (or dihydroergotamine)?
Taking these muscle relaxants with MAOIs can cause seizures and high body temperatures.
What are centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxants?
These medications can be reversed by anticholinesterase drugs like neostigmine.
What are nondepolarizing agents?
COMT inhibitors like tolcapone and entacapone are always prescribed alongside this combination drug.
What is levodopa-carbidopa?
This group of anticonvulsants can worsen absence and myoclonic seizures.
What are iminostilbenes (carbamazepine)?
These three drug types: beta blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, and valproic acid can be used for this type of therapy.
What is prophylactic migraine therapy?
This direct-acting relaxant requires liver function monitoring due to potential toxicity.
What is dantrolene?
This antidote is often given with atropine to prevent bradycardia or bronchoconstriction.
What is neostigmine?
Abruptly stopping dopaminergic therapy can cause this severe syndrome characterized by high fever and rigidity.
What is neuroleptic malignant-like syndrome?
This drug increases GABA levels and stabilizes membranes but requires platelet, LFT, and serum monitoring.
What is valproic acid?
This severe skin reaction is a life-threatening side effect of lamotrigine.
What is Stevens–Johnson syndrome?