Skeletal muscle relaxants are primarily used in the outpatient setting to treat spasms and spasticity caused by multiple conditions such as lower back pain, fibromyalgia, or cerebral palsy.

• =/= NMB - Neuromuscular Blockage
• These agents are categorized as either antispasmodics (central)or antispasticity (peripheral) agents.

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Antispasticity agents: work directly on skeletal muscles to improve spasms

• Baclofen and dantrolene
• Tizanidine

Antispasmodics: work by modifying central nervous system (CNS) conduction to decrease the spasms.

• carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine, metaxalone, methocarbamol, orphenadrine, and chlorzoxazone
• Tizanidine
• A/E: bradycardia, dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, and fatigue (esp. tizanidine and cyclobenzaprine. )
• A/E: hepatotoxicity (dantrolene, chlorzoxazone, metaxalone, and tizanidine)