Cyclobenzaprine in intractable pain syndromes with muscle spasm
B. R. Brown Jr and J. Womble
The effectiveness of cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride, a new tricyclic
skeletal muscle relaxant, was shown in patients with long-term intractable
pain of cervical and lumbar origin aggravated by skeletal muscle spasm and
tenderness. The investigation was double-blind and randomized, comparing
cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride (10 mg three times a day) with diazepam (5 mg
three times a day) and with placebo. After two weeks of treatment, the 16
patients in the cyclobenzaprine group showed an overall improvement in pain
variables as did the 16 patients in the diazepam group. No serious adverse
reactions to cyclobenzaprine were observed in the study. However, dry mouth
due to cyclobenzaprine's anticholinergic action and mild degrees of
drowsiness were encountered more often than with diazepam or placebo.
