THIOCOLCHICOSIDE AS MUSCLE RELAXANT: A REVIEW

Thiocolchicoside, is a synthetic sulphur derivative of colchicoside, a naturally occurring glucosidecontained in the Colchicum autumnale plant Thiocolchicoside has a selective af nity for g-amino-butyric acid (GABA) receptors and acts on themuscular contracture by activating the GABA-nergicinhibitory pathways thereby acting as a potent mus-cle relaxant Thiocolchicoside (Muscoril, Myoril, Neoflax) is a muscle relaxant with anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. It acts as a competitive GABAA receptor antagonist and also inhibits glycine receptors with similar potency and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors to a much lesser extent. It has powerful convulsant activity and should not be used in seizure-prone individuals. Mode of action includes modulation of chemokine and prostanoid production and inhibition of neutrophil and endothelial cell adhesion molecules by which it interferes with the initiation and amplification of the joint inflammation. THC is a muscle relaxant given by oral in the treatment of arthritis in a usual dose equivalent to 8 mg first day to 12-16mg /day