Drugs used to treat joint and muscle disease

Muscle disease: Myaesthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease targeted to muscle type nicotinic receptors. Treatment is based on improving neuromuscular function by: (i) increasing acetylcholine concentrations with neostigmine and pyridostigmine; (ii) immunosuppression; (iii) thymectomy; and (iv) plasmapheresis. General muscle spasticity can be caused by a wide range of conditions including multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease and secondary to stroke. This can be treated centrally with baclofen, tizanidine and benzodiazepines or peripherally with dantrolene. Botulinum toxin inhibits the exocytosis of acetylcholine-containing vesicles and can be used for cervical dystonia, strabismus, blepharospasm, severe axillary hyperhidrosis and cosmetic procedures.