The Effect of Dantrium®* on Spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis

The effect of a new peripherally acting muscle relaxant drug, Dantrium®, on spasticity was tested on 8 patients with a clear multiple sclerosis or with a long-standing spastic paraparesis suggestive of multiple sclerosis. The effect was evaluated both with regular clinical examination and with clectromyographic technique. The latter concerned a quantitative analysis of the patient's ability to voluntarily control fine neuromuscular activity both with and without the drug. The results indicated that the spasticity was markedly reduced in 5 patients out of 8. In 3 cases the spasticity was slightly reduced or there was no effect at all. In most cases the patients were tired and dizzy during the first days of medication. No other side effects whatsoever were noted. Electromyographically it was found that the ability of the patients to control fine neuromuscular activity was increased with Dantrium, indicating that the reduction of the spasticity increased the ability for fine control of the muscles. It is suggested that the EMG test used in this study for the ability to voluntarily control neuromuscular inhibition and activity could be used as an objective experimental procedure for evaluating anti-spastic drugs.