Publication:

Comparative study of centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxants nitrazepam and thiocolchicoside in Albino mice

Background Skeletal muscle relaxants are a heterogeneous group of drugs. As a group, they are structurally and pharmacologically diverse. Skeletal muscle relaxants are usually used as adjunct therapy when initial therapy fails. They are commonly used to treat fibromyalgia, low back pain, neck pain, tension head ache, myofascial pain and muscle spasm.

Methods There were 28 mice were randomly divided into seven groups, each group consists of 4 mice. Group 1(Control): Mice were treated with normal saline and placed on rotating rod with a speed of 18 rpm (ideal speed). Group 2 (Standard-S1): Mice were treated with Nitrazepam at the dose of 2mg/kg body weight and placed on rotating rod. Group 3 (Standard-S2): Mice were treated with Nitrazepam at the dose of 3mg/kg body weight and placed on rotating rod. Group 4 (Standard-S3): Mice were treated with Nitrazepam at the dose of 4mg/kg body weight and placed on rotating rod. Group 5 (Test-T1): Mice were treated with Thiocolchicoside at the dose of 2mg/kg body weight and placed on rotating rod. Group 6 (Test-T2): Mice were treated with Thiocolchicoside at the dose of 3mg/kg body weight and placed on rotating rod. Group 7 (Test-T3): Mice were treated with Thiocolchicoside at the dose of 4mg/kg body weight and placed on rotating rod.

Results In this model inter drug comparisons were carried out with nitrazepam and thiocolchicoside. It was found that both nitrazepam and thiocolchicoside produced central muscle relaxant effect when assessed by rotarod. On iter drug comparision of nitrazepam and thiocolchicoside it was found that by increasing concentration of drug, increased the muscle relaxant property.

Conclusions When assessed by rotarod, it was found that both nitrazepam and thiocolchicoside demonstrated muscle relaxant property but with increased doses of thiocolchicoside produced more muscle relaxant property than the increase in doses of nitrazepam.