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Treatment of Chronic Pain Conditions pp 87–89Cite as

Antispasmodics

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Abstract

Antispasmodics and antispasticity agents are used to treat low back pain and muscle spasms and to break the “pain-spasm-pain” cycle. Although the mechanisms of action are not fully understood, it is generally thought that antispasmodics depress polysynaptic reflexes within the dorsal horn of the spinal cord at spinal interneurons, and antispasticity agents reduce skeletal muscle hypertonicity and contractions at the level of the spinal cord and skeletal muscle. There is no clear evidence that one drug is superior than others for treatment of spasm. Use caution when prescribing these agents to patients who concomitantly use other sedatives.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care, Division of Pain Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Andrew M. Hall MD

Authors
  1. Andrew M. Hall MD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andrew M. Hall MD .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Summit Pain Alliance, Santa Rosa, California, USA

    Jason E. Pope

  2. The Spine and Nerve Center of The Virginias, Charleston, West Virginia, USA

    Timothy R Deer

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Hall, A.M. (2017). Antispasmodics. In: Pope, J., Deer, T. (eds) Treatment of Chronic Pain Conditions. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6976-0_24

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-6976-0_24

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-6974-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-6976-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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