How to Use Muscle Relaxants to Treat Cerebral Palsy

Muscle contractions and overall tightness is a common symptom of cerebral palsy (CP). The contractions can be painful and inhibit a person's movement. People who have such spasms can use muscle relaxants, also called anti-spasmodics, to treat their pain. The medication can also facilitate easier movement. Both oral and intravenous muscle relaxants are available to treat people who have cerebral palsy.

Things You'll Need

• Blood tests
• Physician
• Surgeon
• Physical therapist
• Muscle relaxants
• List of medications

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Instructions

Use Oral Muscle Relaxants to Treat Cerebral Palsy

• 1

  Prepare a list of all of the medications you are currently taking to treat your symptoms of cerebral palsy as well as medicines for other health conditions you may have. Share the list with your doctor before beginning anti-spasmodic medication.

• 2

  Take muscle relaxants, such as Valium, before bedtime. Doctors use this drug to relax both the brain and the entire body so it will be free from painful spasms and ensure a good night's sleep.

• 3

  Use Dantrolene sodium to relieve general muscle tightness. This medication reduces the amount of calcium in the skeletal muscles--those that surround your bones. The muscles relax because they become less sensitive to messages sent from the brain and spine.

• 4

  Have periodic blood testing done while you are taking Dantrolene. There have been instances of liver disease in people who take this medication for long periods of time. Liver function should be monitored to be sure it is in the normal range.

• 5

  Combine the oral drug Baclofen with physical therapy sessions. Taking a dose of Baclofen before physical therapy may make your muscles more flexible and easier to work with than when you're not using the medication.

• 6

  Be aware of potential side effects that can occur when taking muscle relaxants. This can include drowsiness and nausea. Notify your physician if the side effects interfere with your everyday activities.

Use Intravenous Muscle Relaxants to Treat Cerebral Palsy

• 7

  Consider using a Baclofen pump instead of taking the drug orally. An advantage to using an intravenous method of delivery is that less medicine is needed to treat muscle contractions than when taking the oral form.

• 8

  Schedule surgery to have the pump implanted in your abdomen. The pump is programmed to deliver small amounts of Baclofen to the spinal cord at all times. The medicine reduces the number of signals being sent between the spinal cord and the muscles, which results in less stiffness.

• 9

  Recognize signs of infection at the implantation site. Contact your doctor if you have redness, oozing, excessive swelling, pain or itching.

• 10

  Attend appointments every 2 to 3 months to have your pump refilled with more medication.