Anti-spasticity medication and multiple sclerosis: why nurses and therapists need to get involved

Abstract

Spasticity is common in people with MS and can negatively affect activities of daily living and quality of life. It can be managed with anti-spasticity medications, but prescribers often fail to titrate, monitor or review the efficacy of these drugs. Optimal doses are not always reached, and insidious side effects can cause symptoms that mimic disease progression, increase disability and hinder therapeutic interventions. It is important that health professionals involved in the management of people with MS are aware of the injurious potential of these medications and educate people with MS to self-manage them. This article looks at common anti-spasticity medications, the mode of action, dosage and side effects. It provides examples of how medication misuse can lead to increased disability and explains how neurological nurses and physiotherapists can play an active role in monitoring these medications as part of their treatment plan, including information on becoming an independent or supplementary prescriber.