title: Direct spinal effect of a benzodiazepine (midazolam) on spasticity in man.
abstract: The water-soluble benzodiazepine, midazolam, was administered epidurally over the lumbar enlargement 18 times to 9 patients with spasticity due to severe spinal cord injury. Doses of 1.25-3.75 mg produced a rapid decrease of spasticity which lasted 1 h. After the maximal reduction of spasticity, the patients became drowsy. While the results suggest a direct action of midazolam on the spinal cord to reduce spasticity, the effect does not contribute to its usefulness as a therapeutic tool.
authors.affiliation: Division of Restorative Neurology and Human Neurobiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Dahm
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beric
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Dimitrijevic
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Wall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007268:Injections, Epidural; D008297:Male; D008874:Midazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009128:Muscle Spasticity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D008874:Midazolam