Efficacy of three antispasmodics on limb spasticity in patients after stroke: A comparative analysis / 中国脑血管病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective: To compare and evaluate the efficacy and adverse reactions of tizanidine, baclofen and eperisone for treatment of limb spasticity in patients after stroke. Method: One hundred and three patients with stroke were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, controlled study. They were randomly divided into 4 groups Tizanidine (n = 30), baclofen (n = 25), eperisone (n = 22) and control (n = 26) groups. The muscular tone, motor function and daily live activities (ADL) were evaluated with the modified Ashworth scale (MAS), Fugl-Meyer ssessment (FMA) and modified Bathel index (BI) respectively 4 and 12 weeks before and after the medication. Results: Circled digit oneTwelve weeks after the medication, the MAS scores of the upper and lower limbs of the patients were decreased in the 3 treatment groups as compared to the control group (P 0.05). Circled digit twoThe FMA scores of the upper limbs in patients of the 4 groups showed that there were no significant differences before and after the treatment (P > 0.05 all); the FMA scores of the lower limbs in patients of the 4 groups after the 12-week treatment were significantly higher than those before treatment. The average increased scores were 5 ± 3, 6 ± 5, 5 ± 4, and 4 ± 4, respectively (P 0.05). Circled digit threeCompare to the scores before the treatment, the MBI showed that there were significant differences in the average scores in the 4 groups 12 weeks after the treatment (P 0.05). Circled digit fourBlood, urine, liver and renal function tests of all patients were in the normal range before and after treatment. 10% and 8% of patients in the tizanidine and baclofen groups experienced drowsiness; 6.7%, 8%, and 4.5%. of patients in the tizanidine, baclofen, and eperisone groups had gastrointestinal discomfort; 6.7% and 8% of patients in the tizanidine and baclofen groups had blood pressure drop; and 22.7% of patients in the eperisone group had generalized weakness. The symptoms were relieved in all patients after reduce or stop the medication. Conclusion: Tizanidine, baclofen and eperisone have obviously effects for reducing muscular tone and relieving spasticity. Their therapeutic effects has no differences, but the three medicines did not show significant effect on functional recovery.