Muscle Relaxants

baclofen - Lioresal ®

Dosing (Adults):
Spasticity: Start 5 mg orally three times daily, increase every 3 days to 20 mg orally three times daily. Max dose: 20 mg orally four times daily (80mg/day).
Hiccups (unlabeled use): 10-20 mg 2-3 times/day.

Intrathecal: Test dose: 50-100 mcg, doses >50 mcg should be given in 25 mcg increments, separated by 24 hours. A screening dose of 25 mcg may be considered in very small patients. Patients not responding to screening dose of 100 mcg should not be considered for chronic infusion/implanted pump. Maintenance: After positive response to test dose, a maintenance intrathecal infusion can be administered via an implanted intrathecal pump. Initial dose via pump: Infusion at a 24-hourly rate dosed at twice the test dose. Avoid abrupt discontinuation.

Supplied: Injection (soln) intrathecal [preservative free] (Lioresal®): 50 mcg/mL (1 mL); 500 mcg/mL (20 mL); 2000 mcg/mL (5 mL). Tablet: 10 mg, 20 mg

PK: Onset of action: 3-4 days. Peak effect: 5-10 days.

carisprodol - Soma ®

Dosing (Adults): 350 mg orally 3 to 4 times daily

cyclobenzaprine - Flexeril ®

Dosing (Adults): Usual dose: 10 mg orally three times daily. Max: 60 mg/day.
[Oral: Initial: 5 mg 3 times/day; may increase to 10 mg 3 times/day if needed. Do not use longer than 2-3 weeks.]

HEPATIC IMPAIRMENT
Mild: 5 mg 3 times/day; use with caution and titrate slowly.
Moderate to severe: Use not recommended.

PK: Onset of action: ~1 hour.

dantrolene - Dantrium ®

Dosing (Adults):
The minimum initial recommended dose for MALIGNANT HYPERTHERMIA is 1 milligram/kilogram by rapid intravenous injection. If symptoms persist or reappear, the dose may be repeated, to a cumulative dose of 10 milligrams/kilogram. Reversal is usually achieved with a cumulative dose of 2.5 milligrams/kilogram. Oral doses of 1 to 2 milligrams/kilogram 4 times daily for 1 to 3 days may be necessary to prevent recurrence malignant hyperthermia symptoms.

For POST CRISIS FOLLOW-UP OF MALIGNANT HYPERTHERMIA, if oral dantrolene cannot be administered, intravenous dantrolene beginning with 1 milligram/kilogram is recommended. This may be increased as the clinical situation dictates.

Spasticity: Oral: 25 mg/day to start, increase frequency to 2-4 times/day, then increase dose by 25 mg every 4-7 days to a maximum of 100 mg 2-4 times/day or 400 mg/day.

Malignant hyperthermia:
- Preoperative prophylaxis: Oral: 4-8 mg/kg/day in 4 divided doses, begin 1-2 days prior to surgery with last dose 3-4 hours prior to surgery. I.V.: 2.5 mg/kg ~1.25 hours prior to anesthesia and infused over 1 hour with additional doses as needed and individualized.
- Crisis: I.V.: 2.5 mg/kg; may repeat dose up to cumulative dose of 10 mg/kg; if physiologic and metabolic abnormalities reappear, repeat regimen.

- Postcrisis follow-up: Oral: 4-8 mg/kg/day in 4 divided doses for 1-3 days; I.V. dantrolene may be used when oral therapy is not practical; individualize dosage beginning with 1 mg/kg or more as the clinical situation dictates.

Neuroleptic malignant syndrome (unlabeled use): IV: 1 mg/kg; may repeat dose up to maximum cumulative dose of 10 mg/kg, then switch to oral dosage. Administration - IV: Therapeutic or emergency dose can be administered with rapid continuous I.V. push. Follow-up doses should be administered over 2-3 minutes.

Supplied: 25 mg, 50 mg, 100 mg capsule. Injection (powder for reconstitution): 20 mg vial.

Diazepam - Valium ®

Dosing (Adults): 2-10 mg orally 3 to 4 times daily. Sustained release: 15-30 mg orally once daily.

Metaxalone - Skelaxin ®

Dosing (Adults):
800 mg orally 3 to 4 times daily

Methocarbamol - Robaxin ®

Dosing (Adults):
Muscle spasm:
Oral: 1.5 g 4 times/day for 2-3 days (up to 8 g/day may be given in severe conditions), then decrease to 4-4.5 g/day in 3-6 divided doses
I.M., I.V.: 1 g every 8 hours if oral not possible; injection should not be used for more than 3 consecutive days. If condition persists, may repeat course of therapy after a drug-free interval of 48 hours.

Dosing: ELDERLY — Muscle spasm: Oral: Initial: 500 mg 4 times/day; titrate to response

Tetanus: I.V.: Initial dose: 1-3 g; may repeat dose every 6 hours until oral dosing is possible; injection should not be used for more than 3 consecutive days

Administration: (Injection:)
I.M.: A maximum of 5 mL can be administered into each gluteal region.
I.V.: Maximum rate: 3 mL/minute; should not be used for more than 3 consecutive days; may be administered undiluted. Monitor closely for extravasation. Administer I.V. while in recumbent position. Maintain position 15-30 minutes following infusion.

Orphenadrine - Norflex ®

Dosing (Adults): 100 mg orally twice daily.

Tizanidine - Zanaflex ®

Dosing (Adults):
Spasticity: 4-8 mg orally every 6 to 8 hours as needed.
Maximum: 36 mg/day.

Disclaimer

Listed dosages are for - Adult patients ONLY. PLEASE READ THE DISCLAIMER CAREFULLY BEFORE ACCESSING OR USING THIS SITE. BY ACCESSING OR USING THIS SITE, YOU AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN THE DISCLAIMER. GlobalRPH does not directly or indirectly practice medicine or provide medical services and therefore assumes no liability whatsoever of any kind for the information and data accessed through the Service or for any diagnosis or treatment made in reliance thereon.

David F. McAuley, Pharm.D., R.Ph. GlobalRPh Inc.

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