muscle relaxant

This article refers to skeletal muscle relaxants. For information on smooth muscle relaxants, see Antispasmodic. A muscle relaxant is a drug which affects skeletal muscle function and decreases the muscle tone. It may be used to alleviate symptoms such as muscle spasm and pain, and hyperreflexia. The term "muscle relaxant" is used to refer to two major therapeutic groups: neuromuscular blockers and spasmolytics. Neuromuscular blockers act by interfering with transmission at the neuromuscular end plate and have no CNS activity. They are often used during surgical procedures and in intensive care and emergency medicine to cause paralysis. Spasmolytics, also known as "centrally-acting" muscle relaxants, are used to alleviate musculoskeletal pain and spasms and to reduce spasticity in a variety of neurological conditions. While both neuromuscular blockers and spasmolytics are often grouped together as muscle relaxants, the term is commonly used to refer to spasmolytics only.
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Muscle relaxant an agent that specifically aids in reducing muscle tone. Most such agents inhibit the transmission of nerve impulses at the somatic [more]Muscle relaxant - Community and Resources

Noun
1. a drug that reduces muscle contractility by blocking the transmission of nerve impulses or by decreasing the excitability of the motor end plate or by other actions
(hypernym) relaxant
(hyponym) benzodiazepine