Effects of Two Different Doses of Eperisone in the Treatment of Acute Low Back Pain

Objectives: to evaluate efficacy and tolerability of two different dosages of eperisone (150 and 300 mg/day) in comparison with those of diazepam 15 mg/day, orally given for seven days. Methods: Spontaneous and provoked pain, muscular contracture and its impact on working capacity as well as “hand-to-floor” distance and degree of lumbar tract flexion were assessed in a randomised double-blind trial on 90 patients with acute muscle contractures. Adverse effects were also monitored. Results: Diazepam and eperisone 150 mg/day had comparable efficacy, but the incidence of adverse effects and drowsiness was significantly lower in eperisone— than in diazepam-treated patients. Moreover, eperisone 300 mg/day was superior to diazepam in