INDICES> Re: Benzodiazepines and smooth muscle

[Mark Dunn <markdunn@tassie.net.au>]

Hello all,

Do benzodiazepines relax skeletal muscle?

I moderate a pharmacy related list on which the following comments were
made in regard to benzodiazepines. I would be interested in your comments.

"It is a commonly held belief that has been repeated ad nauseum for 30 years
by many reputable authorities and textbooks. Goodman & Gillman has the
backup  for what follows. Benzodiazepines are ineffective as skeletal muscle
relaxants except for flurazepam in cats which is a species specific and drug
specific effect. Any supposed 'muscle relaxant' effect in people (e.g.
supposed effect in 'tension headache') is simply an antianxiety-like
'relaxing' effect, i.e. the perception is that the 'tension' ('muscle
tightness') is less but it is perception (a CNS effect) and not a muscle
effect."

Cheers..............Mark

                                               
Mark Dunn  B Pharm  MPS  MACPP  JP                  
Dover 7117                                      
Tasmania AUSTRALIA                            
Ph: and Fax: 61 03 6298 1517                  
WWW: http://www.tassie.net.au/~mdunn             
e-mail: markdunn@tassie.net.au                         
ICQ: 1597089   


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