
Hocus Pocus: What Muscle Relaxants Do and Don’t Do
Is there value to skeletal muscle relaxants? In this session, presenters will explore why pain related to muscle spasm occurs, the role of skeletal muscle relaxants in symptom control, and special considerations in management of these medications. Presenters will explore clinical scenarios that present unique challenges to a palliative care team, including cancer related pain, spasticity due to neurologic conditions, and chronic nonmalignant pain. Special populations at high risk for adverse events, including the elderly with comorbid addiction, will be highlighted. Clinical cases will demonstrate the potential benefit from skeletal muscle relaxants. We will also identify gaps in knowledge and discuss clinical situations where skeletal muscle relaxants have shown to be ineffective; evidence for their efficacy continues to be limited. There is potential value for muscle relaxants for improving non-opioid management. After this session participants will feel more confident evaluating the appropriateness of patients taking muscle relaxants as well as those who maybe good candidates to begin a muscle relaxant.
Learning Objectives
- Describe the pharmacokinetic profile of each class of anti-spasmodic medication
- Discuss pearls for selection and dosing of anti-spasmodic medications
- Choose an appropriate anti-spasmodic based on patient specific information
Additional Information
Jessica Geiger, PharmD, MS, BCPS, CPE
Clinical Pharmacist, Palliative Care
OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital
Columbus, OH
Justin Kullgren, PharmD, CPE
Clinical Pharmacist, Palliative Care
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
James Cancer Hospital
Columbus, OH
Available Credit
- 1.00 AANP Contact Hours
- 0.60 AANP Pharmacology Contact Hours
- 1.00 ACPE Pharmacy
- 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
- 1.00 ANCC
- 1.00 APA
Mocingbird members get an additional 10% discount on all Tarsus Medical Education - Pain Week courses. Use the discount code "MOC10" to claim the additional 10% discount before you check out from your cart.
To take this course you will be redirected to Tarsus Medical Education's website. Simply create a free account with Tarsus Medical Education in order to complete this activity. You can even use your same Mocingbird username and password to create the account.
Mocingbird is pleased to provide our members with discounted access to highly respected and awarded educational partners.