Clinical Evaluation of Chlorphenesin Carbamate (Maolate) in Spasticity, Rigidity and Pain Associated With Neurologic and Arthritic Diseases

Abstract

In 1946 Schlesinger (1) reported on the use of curare for the treatment of spasticity associated ·with cerebral and spinal cord diseases, and since then several articles on other skeletal-muscle relaxants for the alleviation of muscle spasm and spasticity have appeared. In 1948, Schlesinger et al. (2) published their findings on the use of mephenesin (l\1yanesin) as a centrally acting muscle relaxant. Subsequently, a number of other preparations with similar actions were found to be fairly effective (3-7). In 1963, Matthews et a!. (8) described a centrally actiw muscle relaxant known as chlorphenesin carbamate (Maolate). Clinical studies of this drug (9-14) as a muscle relaxant-analgesic or myanalgesic agent showed that good to excellent results could be obtained in a majority of patients suffering from painful musculoskeletal syndromes. This paper is a report of our experiences with chlorphenesin carbamate. PHARMACOLOGYThe chemical composition of chlorphenesin carbamate (Maolate) 1 is 3-(pchlorophenoxy) -2-hydroxypropyl carbamate.It is a well tolerated, centrally active muscle relaxant with prolonged action when administered orally. Its gross effects on behavioral and neurologic symptoms have been studied in animals and compared with those of mephenesin (Tolserol), mephenesin carbamate (Tolseram), meprobamate (Miltown, Equanil), and carisoprodol (Soma, Rela).