Patient/caregiver was instructed upon mechanism of action of Orphenadrine as follows:
- Nerve impulses travel from the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) along the nerves to the muscles. Conduction of nerve impulse to the muscle results in muscle contraction. Inhibition of nerve impulse conduction to the muscle results in relaxation of muscle.
- Mechanism of orphenadrine action is not exactly clear. Orphenadrine is thought to work by depressing the central nervous system.
- Depression of brain by orphenadrine could lead to inhibition of nerve impulses from the brain and spinal cord to the skeletal muscle.
- This could contribute to inhibition of involuntary muscle contractions, relief of muscle spasms and relaxation, leading to relief from pain and discomfort.
- Also, neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that are synthesized in the nervous system and help the nerve cells to communicate with each other in conducting or inhibiting the nerve impulse. These chemicals can have multiple roles and other functions in the body.
- Acetylcholine is one such neurotransmitter in the nervous system. Upon release, acetylcholine helps with excitation of nerve cells and conduction of nerve impulses in the brain and spinal cord.
- Orphenadrine is believed to inhibit the actions of acetylcholine and contribute to inhibiting conduction of nerve impulses from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles. This action of orphenadrine could also help with muscle relaxation.
- Depression of brain by orphenadrine also leads to some sedation and dizziness, which also probably contributes to relief from pain and discomfort.
