Anantispasmodic (synonym:spasmolytic) is apharmaceutical drug or other agent that suppresses musclespasms.[1]
One type of antispasmodics is used forsmooth muscle relaxation, especially in tubular organs of thegastrointestinal tract. The effect is to prevent spasms of thestomach,intestine orurinary bladder.Bothdicyclomine andhyoscyamine are antispasmodic due to theiranticholinergic action.[medical citation needed] Both of these drugs have side effects common to anticholinergics and can worsengastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).[2]
Papaverine is anopiumalkaloid used to treatvisceral spasms, particularly those of the intestines.[3]Mebeverine is a papaverine analog and spasmolytic with a strong and selective action on the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract, particularly of the colon. Despite being anticholinergic, it does not have the systemic anticholinergic side effects seen in other such drugs.[4]
Peppermint oil has been traditionally used as an antispasmodic, and a review of studies on the topic found that it "could be efficacious for symptom relief inIBS"[5] (as an antispasmodic) although more carefully controlled studies are needed. A later study showed it is an effective antispasmodic when applied topically to the intestine duringendoscopy.[6]
Bamboo shoots have been used for gastrointestinal and antispasmodic symptoms.[medical citation needed]
Anisotropine,atropine,clidinium bromide are also the most commonly used modern antispasmodics.[citation needed]
Pharmacotherapy may be used foracutemusculoskeletal conditions whenphysical therapy is unavailable or has not been fully successful. Another class of antispasmodics for such treatment includescyclobenzaprine,carisoprodol,diazepam,orphenadrine, andtizanidine.[7]Meprobamate is another effective antispasmodic which was first introduced for clinical usage in 1955 mainly as ananxiolytic and soon afterward became a blockbuster psychotropic drug. While clinical usage of meprobamate has largely become obsolete since the development ofbenzodiazepines due to its liability for developing physicaldependence and severe toxicity during instances of acuteoverdose, it is still manufactured and available by prescription. Carisoprodol is similar to meprobamate as they both belong to thecarbamatedrug class and meprobamate is a clinically significantactive metabolite of carisoprodol, although carisoprodol itself possesses additional antispasmodic properties which are distinct from its metabolites. Effectiveness has not been clearly shown formetaxalone,methocarbamol,chlorzoxazone,baclofen, ordantrolene.[7] Applicable conditions include acute back[8] or neck pain, or pain after an injury. Long-term use of muscle relaxants in such cases is poorly supported.[8]
Spasm may also be seen in movement disorders featuringspasticity in neurologic conditions such ascerebral palsy,multiple sclerosis, andspinal cord disease. Medications are commonly used for spastic movement disorders, but research has not shown functional benefit for some drugs.[9][10][needs update] Some studies have shown that medications have been effective in decreasing spasticity, but that this has not been accompanied by functional benefits.[9] Medications such asbaclofen,tizanidine, anddantrolene have been used.[7]