[Protocol for tizanidine use in infantile cerebral palsy].
BACKGROUND
Cerebral palsy is usually spastic, and baclofen, benzodiazepines and tizanidine are considered as oral treatments. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate tizanidine management in children with generalized spasticity.


METHODS
Scheduled medical uses and dosing of tizanidine in our hospital are shown. It was assessed in 45 children. Appearance and repercussions of side-effects were studied using Global Tolerance to Treatment Scale, and drug tolerance was studied by subjective assessment by parents, children or therapists.


RESULTS
were analysed using SPSS version 11.5.


RESULTS
Treatment with tizanidine was carried out with 1 mg/ day in 18 mo-7 yr old children, 2 mg/day in 7-12 yr old children as initial doses, and for those older than 12 yr similar dosing to that in adults. Tolerance was excellent in 79.3 % of children. Sedation was the most uncomfortable side- effect. Subjective assessment by 92.9 % of parents was good.


CONCLUSIONS
Tizanidine shows greater capacity for binding to brain receptors, and therefore more effective for brain spasticity, better tolerance and higher approval. Therefore, it is an ideal treatment for generalised spasticity in cerebral palsy.
Palazón García
R
R
Sección de Rehabilitación Infantil, Servicio de Rehabilitación, Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España. ramiropalazon@yahoo.es
Benavente Valdepeñas
A
A
Arroyo Riaño
O
O
D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003000:Clonidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D010276:Parasympatholytics; C023754:tizanidine; D003000:Clonidine