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Cyclobenzaprine extended release for acute low back and neck pain

Arnold J Weil

Low back and neck pain are common clinical complaints that have a substantial social impact and incur considerable direct and indirect costs. Skeletal muscle relaxants (SMRs) are one of a number of therapy options for patients with these conditions. SMRs are effective in relieving acute muscle spasm associated with nonspecific low back or neck pain; however, patient acceptability of SMRs is reduced by frequent dosing (three- to four-times daily) and the occurrence of somnolence and sedation. Cyclobenzaprine immediate release is an SMR that has consistently been shown to be significantly more effective than placebo in the treatment of low back and neck pain. Cyclobenzaprine extended release, approved by the US FDA in February 2007, is a once-daily SMR that retains the clinical efficacy of the immediate-release formulation, but has a reduced frequency of the adverse events of daytime sleepiness and dizziness versus the immediate-release formulation.