114 Section 2/ Drugs Acting on CNSreceptors which in turn inhibit the release
of glutamate and aspartate.
After oral administration, it is rapidly
and completely absorbed and eliminated
from the body by kidney in unchanged form.
Adverse effects include weakness,
fatigue, dizziness, headache, insomnia,
hypotension, confusion, skin rash,
constipation, nausea, anorexia, dry mouth
and taste disturbance etc.
It is mainly used in the treatment of
spasticity in multiple sclerosis, spastic spinal
paralysis etc. It is also used in the treatment
of trigeminal neuralgia.
METAXALONE
It is a skeletal muscle relaxant,
oxazolidinone derivative used in conjunc-
tion with other therapeutic agents to treat
and discomfort associated with acute mus-
culoskeletal conditions. Mechanism of ac-
tion is not known, however, it is thought that
the skeletal muscle relaxation is due to its
central nervous system depressant action.
It probably acts by inhibiting polysynaptic
pathways but has no effect on monosynap-
tic pathways.
It is well absorbed from GIT and mostly
metabolised in liver and excreted in urine.
Peak plasma levels are reached at two hours
and onset of action occurs within one hour.
Adverse effects include blurred or
double vision, dizziness, drowsiness,
abdominal cramps, confusion, headache,
hiccups, anaemia etc.
It is mainly used to relieve pain and
discomfort caused by strains, sprains and
other painful muscular conditions in which
muscles are in spasm i.e. fibromyalgia,
dislocations and fractures.