IV. NEUROMUSCULAR-BLOCKING DRUGS uses

Neuromuscular blockers are clinically useful during surgery for producing complete muscle relaxation, without having to use higher anesthetic doses to achieve comparable muscular relaxation. Such agents are also useful in orthopedic surgery and in facilitating tracheal intubation as well. A second group of muscle relaxants, the central muscle relaxants, are used to control spastic muscle tone. These drugs include diazepam, which binds at (GABA) receptors; dantrolene, which acts directly on muscles by interfering with the release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum; and baclofen, which probably acts at GABA receptors in the CNS.