Abstract

Beginning with the introduction of mephenesin and meprobamate, a growing number of drugs have been offered as muscle relaxants, claimed to be useful for the relief of such symptoms as spasm, spasticity, rigidity and athetosis occurring in inflammatory, degenerative and traumatic disease of muscle, joints, intervertebral discs and bursae, and of the brain and spinal cord. As evidence about these widely used drugs has accumulated, it has become clear that they are much less effective than has been claimed.