Which of the following medications should a pharmacy technician expect a provider to prescribe for a patient who is experiencing muscle spasms?

When considering medications for muscle spasms, cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) is specifically designed to address this issue. It is a muscle relaxant that works by acting on the central nervous system to relieve muscle spasms and associated pain. Its mechanism of action includes blocking nerve impulses that are sent to the brain, thereby helping to reduce muscle contraction and provide relief to the patient.

The other medications listed serve different purposes. Ranitidine (Zantac) is an acid-reducing medication used primarily to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease and other conditions related to excess stomach acid, making it unsuitable for muscle spasms. Pregabalin (Lyrica) is typically prescribed for neuropathic pain and seizures, while duloxetine (Cymbalta) is an antidepressant that is also used for general anxiety disorder and chronic pain conditions, but is not primarily indicated for muscle spasms.

Thus, cyclobenzaprine is the most appropriate choice among the options for treating muscle spasms due to its specific action as a muscle relaxant.