By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Pharmacology MentorPharmacology MentorPharmacology Mentor
  • Home
  • Bookmarks
  • Pages
    • Terms and conditions
    • Submit a Topic or Chapter
    • Ask for a topic
    • Copyright Statement
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
    • About
  • Quizzes
    • Quiz on Antihyperlipidemics
    • Quiz on Antihypertensives
    • Quiz on Antiarrhythmics
    • Quiz on Drugs for CCF
    • Practice Quizzes on Antidiabetic drugs
    • Practice Quizzes on Drugs used in GI Disorders
    • CVS Post lab Quiz
    • Quiz on Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics
    • Drugs acting on CNS – All CNS topics EXCEPT NSAIDs
    • Drugs acting on ANS
    • Antimicrobial Chemotherapy: Antiprotozoal and antihelminthic drugs
    • Antimicrobial Chemotherapy – Antimalarial Drugs
    • Antimicrobial Chemotherapy – Antiviral and antifungal drugs
    • OC Pills
    • Antimicrobial Chemotherapy – Antibacterials
  • Blog
  • Chapters
    • General
    • CVS
    • Antimicrobial
    • Neuropharmacology
    • ANS
    • PNS
    • GI
    • Endocrine
    • Hematology
    • miscellaneous
Search
  • Advertise
© 2024 Pharmacology Mentor. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: An Overview of Spasmolytics or Antispasmodics
Share
Sign In
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Pharmacology MentorPharmacology Mentor
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Bookmarks
  • Terms and conditions
  • Submit a Topic or Chapter
  • Ask for a topic
  • Copyright Statement
  • Contact
  • Quizzes
    • Quiz on Antihyperlipidemics
    • Quiz on Antiarrhythmics
    • Quiz on Drugs for CCF
    • Quiz on Antihypertensives
    • Practice Quizzes on Antidiabetic drugs
    • Practice Quizzes on Drugs used in GI Disorders
    • Quiz on Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics
    • Drugs acting on CNS – All CNS topics EXCEPT NSAIDs
    • NSAIDs
    • CVS Post lab Quiz
    • Drugs acting on ANS
    • Antimicrobial Chemotherapy – Antimalarial Drugs
    • Antimicrobial Chemotherapy: Antiprotozoal and antihelminthic drugs
    • Antimicrobial Chemotherapy – Antiviral and antifungal drugs
    • OC Pills
    • Antimicrobial Chemotherapy – Antibacterials
  • About
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
© 2024 Pharmacology Mentor. All Rights Reserved.
Pharmacology Mentor > Blog > Pharmacology > An Overview of Spasmolytics or Antispasmodics
Pharmacology

An Overview of Spasmolytics or Antispasmodics

Last updated: 2023/09/04 at 2:28 AM
Pharmacology Mentor 41 Views
Share
3 Min Read
spasmolytics
#spasmolytics
SHARE

Spasmolytics, also known as antispasmodics, are a class of drugs used to suppress muscle spasms or to decrease the tone of smooth muscle in the gastrointestinal tract, the biliary tract, or the urinary tract. These drugs are commonly used to treat conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), spastic colon, and other disorders involving smooth muscle spasms.

Contents
Mechanism of ActionPharmacokineticsSide EffectsContraindicationsClinical Uses

Mechanism of Action

The mechanism of action of spasmolytics varies depending on the specific drug, but they generally work by either:

  1. Directly relaxing smooth muscle: Drugs like papaverine and drotaverine act directly on the smooth muscle to inhibit contractions. They may work by inhibiting phosphodiesterases, leading to increased levels of cyclic AMP, which in turn decreases calcium influx and causes muscle relaxation.
  2. Blocking the action of acetylcholine at muscarinic receptors: Drugs like hyoscine (scopolamine) and atropine are anticholinergic agents that block the action of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter that would otherwise stimulate muscle contractions.
  3. Calcium channel blockers: Some spasmolytics like diltiazem work by inhibiting the influx of calcium ions into the smooth muscle cells, which is necessary for muscle contraction.

Pharmacokinetics

  1. Absorption: Spasmolytics can be administered orally, intramuscularly, or intravenously, depending on the drug and the clinical situation.
  2. Distribution: These drugs are distributed throughout the body and may cross the blood-brain barrier, especially in the case of anticholinergic agents.
  3. Metabolism and Excretion: Spasmolytics are metabolized in the liver and excreted through the kidneys.

Side Effects

  1. Dry mouth: Especially common with anticholinergic agents.
  2. Blurred vision: Particularly with anticholinergic types.
  3. Urinary retention: Due to relaxation of smooth muscle in the urinary tract.
  4. Constipation: Due to inhibition of gastrointestinal motility.
  5. Drowsiness or sedation: Especially with drugs that cross the blood-brain barrier.

Contraindications

  1. Glaucoma: Especially narrow-angle glaucoma is a contraindication for anticholinergic spasmolytics.
  2. Prostatic hyperplasia: Due to the risk of urinary retention.
  3. Severe cardiovascular conditions: Some spasmolytics may affect heart rate and blood pressure.
  4. Pregnancy and lactation: Always consult a healthcare provider for specific advice.

Clinical Uses

  1. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
  2. Gastrointestinal cramps
  3. Renal or biliary colic
  4. Bladder spasms
  5. Adjunct in endoscopy procedures

It’s important to consult healthcare providers for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment, including the use of spasmolytics.

Note: This is a general overview and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare provider for medical advice and treatment.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek the advice of a healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition.

You Might Also Like

Pharmacology of Antiviral Drugs

Pharmacotherapy of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Broad spectrum antibiotics – Tetracyclines and Chloramphenicol

Pharmacotherapy of erectile dysfunction

Pharmacotherapy of migraine

TAGGED: Antispasmodics, Pharmacology, Spasmolytics

Sign Up For Daily Newsletter

Be keep up! Get the latest breaking news delivered straight to your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Copy Link Print
Previous Article skeletal muscle relaxants Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: A Quick Guide
Next Article Neuromuscular Blocking Agents Neuromuscular Blocking Agents
1 Review 1 Review
  • Skeletal Muscle Relaxants: Quick Guide | Pharmacology Mentor says:

    […] An Overview of Spasmolytics or Antispasmodics […]

    Reply

Leave a review Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Please select a rating!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Most Popular Posts

  1. Drug Nomenclature: Drug Naming system (Dr. Ambadasu Bharatha) (550)
  2. Routes of Drug Administration: A detailed overview (Pharmacology Mentor) (447)
  3. Routes of Drug Administration (Pharmacology Mentor) (426)
  4. Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) – A Comprehensive Guide (Pharmacology Mentor) (394)
  5. First-Order vs. Zero-Order Kinetics: What You Need to Know (Pharmacology Mentor) (330)
  6. Pharmacology Definitions and Terminology (Pharmacology Mentor) (291)
  7. Enzyme inducers: How they are important in the clinical pharmacology? (Pharmacology Mentor) (282)
  8. Drug Potency and Efficacy (Pharmacology Mentor) (261)
  9. Unlock the Power of Mnemonics in Pharmacology (anonymous) (240)
  10. Factors Affecting Oral Drug Absorption and its Bioavailability (Pharmacology Mentor) (231)

Categories

  • ANS26
  • Antimicrobial35
  • Clinical Pharmacology4
  • CVS31
  • Endocrine21
  • Featured15
  • General47
  • GI15
  • Hematology13
  • miscellaneous28
  • Neuropharmacology38
  • Pharmacology261
  • PNS2
  • Reproductive System10
  • Respiratory System7

Tags

Adverse effects Antibiotics Antiplatelet Drugs Aspirin Benzodiazepines beta-blockers Bioavailability Bipolar disorder calcium channel blockers Carbamazepine Clinical trials contraindications Coronary artery disease Dosage DRC drug absorption Drug Administration Drug classification drug design Drug development Drug discovery Drug Dosage Drug efficacy Drug formulation Drug interactions Drug metabolism Drug regulation Drugs Drug safety Generic drugs Headache Hypertension mechanism of action Medication Myocardial infarction Neurotransmitters Norepinephrine Pharmacodynamics Pharmacokinetics Pharmacological actions Pharmacology Pharmacovigilance Side effects Therapeutic uses Treatment

Latest Articles

antiretroviral drugs
Pharmacology of Antiviral Drugs
Antimicrobial Pharmacology May 1, 2025
Featured image on Diabetes
Pharmacotherapy of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
Endocrine Pharmacology April 24, 2025
broad-spectrum antibiotics - tetracyclines
Broad spectrum antibiotics – Tetracyclines and Chloramphenicol
Antimicrobial Pharmacology March 28, 2025
Pharmacotherapy of erectile dysfunction
Pharmacotherapy of erectile dysfunction
miscellaneous Pharmacology January 28, 2025

Stay Connected

Facebook Like
//

Pharmacology Mentor is dedicated to serving as a useful resource for as many different types of users as possible, including students, researchers, healthcare professionals, and anyone interested in understanding pharmacology.

Quick Link

  • Terms and conditions
  • Copyright Statement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Ask for a topic
  • Submit a Topic or Chapter
  • Contact

Top Categories

  • Pharmacology
  • Antimicrobial
  • Neuropharmacology
  • Endocrine
  • Reproductive System
  • miscellaneous

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

Pharmacology MentorPharmacology Mentor
Follow US
© 2024 Pharmacology Mentor. All Rights Reserved.
Pharmacology Mentor
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Register Lost your password?