The Effect of Dantrium®* on Spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

ABSTIIACTThe effect of a new peripherally acting @~n s c l e relaxant drug, Dantrium8, on spasticity was tested on 8 patients with a clear multiple sclerosis o r with a long-standing spastic paraparesis suggestive of multiple sclerosis. The effect was evaluated both with regular clinical examination and with elcctromyographic technique. The latter concerned a quantitative analysis of the patient's ability to voluntarily control fine neuromuseular activity both with and without the drug. The results indicated that the spasticity was markedly reduced in 5 patients out of 8. In 3 eases the spasticity was slightly reduced or there was no effect at all. In most cases the patients were tired and dizzy during the first days of medication. N o other side effects whatsoever were noted. Electromyographically it was found that the ability of the patients to control fine neuromuscular activity was increased with Dantrium, indicating that the reduction of the spasticity increased the ability for fine control of the muscles. It is suggested that the EMG test used in this study for the ability to voluntarily control neuromuscular inhibition and activity could be used as an objective experimental procedure for evaluating anti-spastic drugs.

Pharmacological management of spasticity in multiple sclerosis: Systematic review and consensus paper

“…Treatment regimes are usually started at 25 mg once daily and increased gradually to a maximum of 400 mg divided into four doses. 53 Six studies were identified and three were excluded (open trial design 54 or MS patients representing less than half of the study sample 55;56 ).…”

Symptomatic Treatment in Multiple Sclerosis

“…Several reports suggesting benefit of dantrolene sodium for the treatment of spasticity in MS are available, [65][66][67][68] but concern regarding its effects on the liver limit its use. Diazepam has been evaluated in an open-label crossover trial comparing it with dantrolene, 69 and a double-blinded trial comparing it with baclofen.…”