Note when using pain relievers smooth muscle relaxants

1. What is smooth muscle? Smooth muscle (also known as visceral muscle) is one of the three types of muscle in the human body, next to skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle. Smooth muscle is a type of muscle that usually surrounds hollow organs or ducts in the body such as the digestive tract (esophagus, stomach, intestinal tract), bronchi, bladder, ureters, urethra, uterus, etc. blood vessels, ciliary muscles, erector muscles, ducts of glands...
The difference between smooth muscle and the other two types of muscle is that its contractions are not according to the will of man, meaning they We cannot control smooth muscle function.

2. What is a smooth muscle relaxant? Smooth muscle relaxants that relax this muscle group should be indicated for the symptomatic treatment of muscle spasm pain. In which, the common relaxants are smooth muscle relaxants of the ureter, urethra, stomach, esophagus, biliary tract or genitourinary tract...
As mentioned above, the smooth muscle contracts uncontrollably. Therefore, smooth muscle analgesics work to reduce spasms of this muscle group, and at the same time reduce the intensity and speed of contractions, thereby helping to reduce pain. Among the common pain relievers, smooth relaxants are used in many cases of pain caused by spasms of smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract, biliary tract, urinary tract and genital tract. However, when using it, patients should be especially careful because smooth muscle analgesics can inadvertently obscure symptoms, especially when the disease is more severe or when the body shows some undesirable reactions. desire.

3. Some common smooth muscle pain relievers 3.1. Spasmaverine Spasmaverine is a smooth muscle relaxant, usually indicated when the patient is in pain due to gastrointestinal and biliary tract dysfunction, pain due to spasm of the urinary tract smooth muscle (such as abdominal pain). menstruation, labor pain, renal colic, threatened miscarriage or difficult delivery). Besides, Spasmaverine is also indicated in cases of glaucoma or prostate enlargement.
3.2. Buscopan This smooth muscle pain reliever is effective against spasms of gastrointestinal smooth muscle, biliary tract, urinary tract, genital tract. Indicated mainly in some diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome, peptic ulcer disease, cholecystitis or cholangitis, pancreatitis, menstrual cramps, stones or urinary infections such as pyelonephritis, cystitis...
3.3. Atropin Atropin is indicated in cases where it is necessary to inhibit the effects of the parasympathetic nervous system such as digestive system disorders, gastric ulcers or duodenal ulcers (atropin also has the ability to inhibit gastric acid secretion), irritable bowel syndrome, symptomatic treatment of acute or chronic diarrhea due to increased intestinal motility and other smooth muscle spasms (biliary tract, renal colic...). Besides, atropin smooth muscle relaxant is also used in the treatment regimen of organophosphorus poisoning, bradycardia due to digitalis poisoning, bronchospasm or motion sickness prevention...
3.4. Papaverin This drug is classified as a smooth muscle relaxant with muscle relaxant effect, indicated in conditions of increased gastrointestinal motility (such as colitis, gastritis or enteritis), uterine spasms. (in dysmenorrhea), renal colic or biliary colic... Papaverin also has the ability to inhibit spasms of cerebral blood vessels, peripheral blood vessels or relax the heart muscle. Therefore, in the past, Papaverin used to be an indication in the treatment regimen of cerebral ischemia, myocardial ischemia, bronchospasm due to asthma or angina.

4. Side effects of smooth muscle relaxants Similar to other pain relievers, patients should not buy and use smooth muscle relaxants on their own. instructions for use before drinking or using. At the same time, when seeing abnormal signs, it is necessary to stop taking the drug and notify the doctor or go to the nearest medical facility for examination and treatment.
Each type of smooth muscle relaxant can cause different unwanted effects and patients should be aware of:
4.1. Atropin Undesirable effects of Atropin: dry mouth, feeling of difficulty in swallowing, difficulty speaking, thirst, fever, decreased bronchial secretions... Patients with urinary retention due to prostate enlargement, paralytic ileus or pyloric stenosis , myasthenia gravis, glaucoma must not use Atropin; On the cardiovascular system: Atropin causes transient bradycardia, then increased heart rate, palpitations, arrhythmias; Atropin can act on the nervous system causing confusion, paranoia and excitability... In particular, children and the elderly are a very high risk group; Use of Atropine ophthalmic (especially in children) can cause systemic toxicity or if prolonged eye drops can cause local irritation, congestion, edema, conjunctivitis. 4.2. Buscopan Smooth muscle pain reliever Buscopan can cause side effects such as dry mouth, sweating, tachycardia, and urinary retention. However, most of them are mild.
Attention, do not use Buscopan oral form in cases of angle-closure glaucoma, intestinal obstruction, urinary tract obstruction and tachycardia.
Do not use buscopan injection for patients with glaucoma disorders, prostate enlargement causing urinary retention, mechanical narrowing of the gastrointestinal tract, tachycardia, myasthenia gravis.
4.3. Papaverin Although the smooth muscle relaxant Papaverin has low toxicity after oral administration, some cases of gastrointestinal side effects (such as nausea, constipation, loss of appetite, diarrhea) have been reported in practice. , hepatitis and liver hypersensitivity, dizziness, sedation, somnolence, lethargy, headache...
Therefore, patients must use Papaverin with caution, especially in patients with glaucoma. . Do not use the drug for a long time because it can lead to drug dependence. In addition, the use of Papaverin should be discontinued immediately when symptoms of gastrointestinal disturbances, jaundice or altered liver function test results occur.
Vinmec International General Hospital is a high quality medical care address with a team of doctors and pharmacists with many years of experience and good expertise. When having health problems, customers can contact the hospital to be examined and have the best indications for taking medicine.