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Muscle Spasms (cont.)

How are muscle spasms treated?

Prevention is the key to most skeletal muscle spasm episodes. Since they are often associated with dehydration and electrolyte disturbances, it is important to keep the body well hydrated. If the fluid loss is due to an illness with fever or vomiting and diarrhea, controlling the symptoms will help limit fluid loss and prevent spasms. Similarly, for those who work or exercise in a hot environment, drinking enough fluids to keep hydrated is very important.

Should a skeletal muscle go into spasm, the initial treatment is to gently stretch the muscle back to length to break the spasm cycle and resolve the acute situation. Further treatment will depend upon the underlying cause of the muscle spasms.

The treatment of smooth muscle spasm also depends upon the underlying cause. Often, pain control will occur simultaneously with the care provider's efforts to make the diagnosis.

There is no one effective treatment for the dystonias. Medication may used to try to restore balance to the brain's neurotransmitters. The decision as to which medication to use depends upon the patient's presentation. It may take trial and error to find the right medication in the right dose to control symptoms.

  • Anti-Parkinsonism drugs, like trihexyphenidyl HCl (Artane) and benztropine mesylate (Cogentin) decrease acetylcholine levels.


  • Muscle relaxants like diazepam (Valium) and baclofen (Lioresal) affect GABA receptors.


  • Levodopa (Sinemet) and reserpine (Harmonyl) affect dopamine levels.


  • Carbamazepine (Tegretol), a seizure-control drug, may be useful in some patients.


  • Botulinum toxin type A (Botox) may be injected into a specific muscle to paralyze it and relieve the muscle spasm. This was initially used for blepharospasms but is now able to be used where other muscles are involved.
Muscle Spasms At A Glance
  • Spasms may affect many different types of muscles in the body, leading to many different symptoms and presentations.
  • Spasms of skeletal muscles are most common and are often due to dehydration and electrolyte abnormalities. The spasm occurs abruptly, is very painful, and usually short lived. It may be relieved by gently stretching the muscle.
  • If muscle spasms are especially painful, if they do not resolve or if they recur, medical care should be accessed to look for potential underlying causes.
  • Smooth muscles that are within the walls of hollow organs in the body can go into spasm, causing significant pain. Often this pain is colicky, meaning that it comes and goes. Examples include the pain associated with diarrhea, gallbladder pain, and kidney stone pain.
  • A special form of muscle spasms are the dystonias whereby an abnormality perhaps exists with the chemicals that help transmit signals within the brain. Examples include torticollis and blepharospasm. Treatment may include medications to help restore the neurotransmitter levels to normal and Botox injections to paralyze the affected muscle and relieve the spasm.

Last Editorial Review: 6/17/2009


Muscle Spasms: Cause of Spasms

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