Evaluation of Tizanidine Hydrochloride Effectiveness in Patients with Cranio-Facial Muscle Pain through Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) Parameters

Aim: The first goal of our study consists of the evaluation of TizanidineHydrochloride (HCl) effectiveness in patients with craniofacial muscle pain, measured with Visual Analogue Scale parameters. Tizanidine HCl is a short-acting muscle relaxer: it is used to treat painful muscle spasm because it works by blocking nerve impulses (pain sensations) temporarily relaxing muscle tone. Materials and methods: We considered a sample of 52 patients (5 male, 47 female) with extracapsular TMD mostly due to craniofacial muscle pain. Patients belonged to three groups (under 30, 31-50, over 50 aged) were treated with a Tizanidine HCl protocol based on 2 mg cp once a day (in the evening) for a month. The craniofacial muscle pain was measured at time T0 (before using drug) and at time T1 (after treatment) with VAS protocol. Patients were called to estimate their facial pain with a number from 0 (no pain) to 10 (maximum pain) of the Visual Analogue Scale. Making differences between the 2 evaluation at T0 and at T1 we could appreciate the effectiveness of Tizanidine HCl treatment. Results: Using Tizanidine HCl protocol patients had a real reduction of their facial pain. Measurements revealed a mean reduction of 3,5 degrees on VAS, mostly in women under 30 group. Conclusion: Nowadays drugs represent important tools for treatment of TMD associated to muscle pain. Tizanidine HCl can be considered a drug with a high effectiveness on treating facial pain, tank also to a high compliance.