Muscle relaxant

*Muscle relaxants* are a diverse group of drugs that reduce skeletal muscle tone or spasticity by acting on various targets, including the central nervous system (as CNS depressants), neuromuscular junction (via blockade of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors), or directly on muscle contractile apparatus (e.g., ryanodine receptor antagonists)[1][2][3][4][7][8]. They are commonly divided into two pharmacological groups: - **Neuromuscular blockers** (e.g., succinylcholine, vecuronium, pancuronium), which act peripherally at the NMJ to induce muscle paralysis, mainly for surgical procedures and ventilation[1][2][3][6]. - **Spasmolytics/Centrally acting muscle relaxants** (e.g., baclofen, tizanidine, cyclobenzaprine), which alleviate muscle spasticity by reducing motor neuron excitation or enhancing inhibitory signaling within the spinal cord and brain[4][5][8]. A third group, **direct-acting relaxants** like dantrolene, interferes with calcium release in muscle fibers[4][7]. Because "muscle relaxant" refers to an entire class, not a specific molecule, it cannot be mapped as a canonical target for drug discovery or molecular characterization.

Other names

muscle relaxantsskeletal muscle relaxantsspasmolyticsneuromuscular blockerscentrally acting muscle relaxants

Central nervous system depression via enhancement of inhibitory neurotransmission (e.g., GABAergic or glycinergic)[7][8] - Blockade of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors at neuromuscular junction (NMJ)[1][2][3][6] - Direct interference with muscle contraction, e.g., by blocking ryanodine receptors (dantrolene)[4][7]