[The efficacy of sirdalud in the drug therapy of pain in the spine].

The activity of myorelaxant sirdalud (tizanidine) was studied in 36 patients aged 20-79 with pain syndrome (reflex muscular-tonic, myofascial, acute compression radiculopathy). The condition of the patients was evaluated according to the visual analog scale where the scores were assigned to the intensity of muscular spasm, pain at rest, exercise and at altitude tension and functional decline. Pain symptoms diminished as early as the treatment day 3. The same was true for muscular spasms. The highest effect of sirdalud occurred in acute phases of the diseases. Pain relief was so material that 20 patients were able to discontinue analgetics and tranquilizers. For 12 patients the doses of nonsteroid antiinflammatory drugs were noticeably reduced. Side effects of sirdalud were minimal: slight sleepiness and xerostomia.