Archer Baseline Assessment Practice Test

Muscle relaxers primarily function as centrally acting depressants. This means that their primary mechanism of action takes place in the central nervous system, leading to a decrease in muscle tone, spasticity, or involuntary muscle contractions. By depressing neural activity, these medications help alleviate pain and discomfort caused by muscle spasms.

Centrally acting depressants are effective in promoting muscle relaxation because they act on specific pathways in the brain and spinal cord. This makes them particularly helpful for individuals experiencing conditions that involve muscle stiffness, such as back pain or certain neurological disorders. Their sedative effects can also assist in providing relief from associated discomfort.

In contrast, other categories of substances listed in the options serve different purposes. Stimulants enhance neural activity rather than suppress it, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) primarily focus on reducing inflammation and pain rather than causing muscle relaxation, and local anesthetics block nerve signals in a specific area without central nervous system effects. Thus, the classification of muscle relaxers as centrally acting depressants accurately reflects their role in muscle relaxation and pain management.