Drugs that affect skeletal muscle function can be divided into several therapeutic categories:
Neuromuscular blocking agents are used during surgical procedures to induce paralysis.
Central muscle relaxants decrease spasticity associated with various neurological and musculoskeletal conditions.
Anabolic-androgenic steroids, corticosteroids, NSAIDs, and various other anti-inflammatory agents (eg, dimethyl sulfoxide) are used to treat acute and chronic conditions involving skeletal muscle.
Several therapeutic agents influence metabolic and other processes in skeletal muscle, including the nutrients required for normal muscle function that are used to prevent or mitigate degenerative muscular conditions (eg, selenium and vitamin E to prevent or treat muscular dystrophies such as nutritional myodegeneration).
The clinical pharmacology of the neuromuscular blocking agents, central muscle relaxants, and anabolic-androgenic steroids is discussed in this chapter.
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Also see pet owner content regarding drugs used to treat bone and muscle disorders.
