Cerebral Palsy: Medicines to Relax Spastic Muscles

These medicines help relax muscles temporarily.

Injectable medicines help relax tight muscles in the legs or arms affected by Reference cerebral palsy Opens New Window. Injectable medicines may be used:

• When muscle tightness interferes with daily activities, especially walking.
• To increase the effectiveness of physical therapy.
• To determine whether nerve surgery is appropriate. Doctors often can predict the potential success of surgery by how nerves and muscles react to the injected medicine.

The doctor may suggest injection of botulinum toxin into the salivary glands to help reduce the severity of drooling.

Oral medicines may be used before Reference physical therapy Opens New Window or at bedtime to help relax tight muscles and stop muscle spasms. Diazepam can help relax muscles after orthopedic surgery.

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