Which medications are commonly used to treat spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis?

The combination of tizanidine, baclofen, and dantrolene is commonly used to treat spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis. Tizanidine is an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist that works by inhibiting presynaptic motor neuron firing, resulting in muscle relaxation. Baclofen, a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor agonist, effectively reduces muscle spasticity by depressing the transmission of spinal cord reflexes. Dantrolene acts directly on skeletal muscle and decreases calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum, leading to reduced muscle contraction.

These medications target the mechanisms of spasticity effectively, making them suitable choices in the management of this condition associated with multiple sclerosis. While other medications may alleviate spasticity to some extent, tizanidine and baclofen are particularly favored due to their specific actions and the extent of their effectiveness in managing the symptoms.