Perifeer en Centraal Werkende Spierontspanners: Een Vergelijking

Skeletal muscle relaxants reduce muscle tension and induce temporary paralysis to relieve pain.

They are classified into centrally acting muscle relaxants, which affect the central nervous system or CNS, and peripherally or directly acting muscle relaxants, which act directly at the neuromuscular junction. 

These drugs differ in their mechanism of action, administration mode and clinical uses.

Centrally acting muscle relaxants inhibit postsynaptic transmission in the CNS and decrease muscle tone.

In contrast, peripherally acting relaxants block neuromuscular transmission in skeletal muscles, reducing muscle contraction and causing muscle paralysis. They have no notable effect on the CNS.

Centrally acting relaxants are generally administered orally, with some being given intravenously and intramuscularly. These treat chronic back pain and fibromyalgia.  

Peripherally acting relaxants are administered intravenously to relax muscles during surgeries or short medical procedures.