(619) A Retrospective Review of Zanaflex, a Centrally Acting Alpha II Agonist Muscle Relaxant for Treatment of Traumatically Induced Myofascial Pain

Authors: Andrew Dubin, Albany Medical College; Howard Smith, Albany Medical College; George Gombas, Albany Medical College Virtually 100% of patients with chronic, nonmalignant cervical pain, and 95% of patients with chronic lumbar pain have classic myofascial pain findings of trigger points and tender spots in muscles. 1 We present the findings of a retrospective chart review to evaluate the efficacy of Zanaflex in the treatment of myofascial pain. Utilizing billing codes, 189 patients, during the period of April through September 1998, were identified as having the diagnosis of myofascial pain in an active physiatric practice. Twenty‐five patients were on Zanaflex during the study period. All 25 charts were analyzed. Five charts were deleted secondary to patient noncompliance with follow‐up. Ninety percent of all patients in the study were female; 45% had work‐injury–related myofascial pain; 5% had nontraumatic etiology. Pain duration ranged from 1 to 8 years. Seventy‐six percent had pain greater than 2 years duration. Evidence of improved function, decreased pain, or headache complaints after initiation of Zanaflex was assessed. Headaches decreased from daily to occasional or rare in 72% of patients. Of 9 workers compensation patients, 4 returned to work, 1 without restrictions. Of 10 MVA patients, 5 returned to work, 1 without restrictions. The data reveals that 85% of patients had at least a partial response to Zanaflex; 44% of workers compensation and 50% of MVA patients returned to work in some capacity. We propose a prospective study, placebo‐controlled, to critically evaluate the efficacy of Zanaflex in the treatment of traumatically induced myofascial pain based upon the above findings. 1Gerwin, RD. A study of 96 subjects examined both for fibromyalgia and myofascial pain. J Musculoskeletal Pain 1995;3(suppl 1): 121.