Cyclobenzaprine in the treatment of acute muscle spasm: review of a decade of clinical experience.

Cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride became available for the treatment of acute skeletal muscle spasm ten years ago. The initial clinical trials conducted during the premarketing evaluation of this drug showed that it was significantly superior to placebo in relieving the signs and symptoms of acute skeletal muscle spasm. In addition, cyclobenzaprine was found to have a more rapid onset of action than diazepam. Data obtained both in controlled clinical investigations and in a postmarketing surveillance program indicated that cyclobenzaprine treatment was associated with few serious adverse experiences. Cyclobenzaprine represents a cost-effective approach to the management of acute muscle spasm, primarily because of the rapid symptomatic relief that it provides.