Publication:

A study to evaluate the skeletal muscle relaxant property of Pregabalin and Gabapentin in albino rats

Background Skeletal muscle relaxants are the drugs which reduce unwanted spasm without interfering with consciousness and voluntary movements. The centrally acting muscle relaxants like Diazepam, is known to be GABA mimetics and other antiepileptics like Gabapentin and Pregabalin also act through the release of GABA. This study is done to investigate skeletal muscle relaxant property of these drugs in comparison to Diazepam.

Methods T Models used in the experiment are Grip Strength Test, Rota Rod Method, Beam Walk Test, Photoactometer Test. Animals were divided into 6 groups of 6 rats each: Group 1: Control group treated with normal saline (0.1 ml/10gm), Group 2: Standard-15mg/kg of Diazepam, Group 3:T1-60 mg/kg of Gabapentin, Group 4:T2-10 mg/kg of Pregabalin, Group 5:T3-60 mg/kg of Gabapentin+Diazepam, Group 6:T4- 10 mg/kg of Pregabalin+Diazepam. Mean and standard deviation was calculated for each group. One way ANOVA was used for multiple group comparisons followed by post hoc Tukey’s test for statistical significance between the groups.

Results Treatment with the above test drugs produced significant muscle relaxation and caused decreased fall off, sliding time, increase climbing time and decreased locomotor activity in all models indicating motor incoordination. The results obtained from both standard and test groups showed a highly significant difference in muscle relaxation when compared with the control group.

Conclusions The test drugs showed skeletal muscle relaxant property in rats comparable to Diazepam. In view of these results, it can open a new avenue for these drugs to be used as skeletal muscle relaxants after conducting clinical trials.