Both drugs appear to be more effective than placebo for relieving pain due to spasms. There is not enough good quality research on the other medications—chlorzoxazone, metaxalone, and methocarbamol—to determine how well they relieve pain. There is also not enough research to know if pills that combine a muscle relaxant with another drug, such as aspirin, codeine, or caffeine, are any more effective than a muscle relaxant alone.
One of the most common side effects of muscle relaxants is sedation. Most people experience it when they take one of these drugs. Below, we list other common side effects as well. Some muscle relaxants have some serious side effects. For example, there have been rare cases of serious liver damage associated with chlorzoxazone, so this medication should not be prescribed to people with liver disease or hepatitis.
The package insert which can be found here for each medication lists the side effects, and you can also ask your doctor or pharmacist. Although there are not enough studies to show the comparative risk of abuse or addiction between each of these drugs, almost all reports have been in people taking carisoprodol Soma and generic.
Carisoprodol is the only one of the muscle relaxants that is classified as a controlled substance due to the concern of a high number of reports of nonmedical emergency visits by the Drug Abuse Network and 88 cases of death attributed to carisoprodol in There have also been a rising number of reports of misuse or abuse of cyclobenzaprine. From to , there was a percent increase in the number of emergency room visits associated with the drug.
There is not enough relevant evidence from the available studies to determine whether the muscle relaxants have different efficacy or safety profiles in younger or older people, different races, or men and women. Older people should not take these drugs because they are associated with a higher risk of fractures due to falls.
The high risk of falls are likely due to the sedating effects of muscle relaxants and their effect of lowering blood pressure.
Plus, they pose serious safety concerns, particularly for elderly people. If you decide with your doctor to try a muscle relaxant, know that they should be taken for the shortest time possible, not to exceed three weeks in most cases—and maybe less, depending on your pain. In addition to sedation, the most common side effects associated with muscle relaxants to watch out for include weakness or fatigue, dizziness, and dry mouth.
Table 4, below, lists important considerations for each muscle relaxant. We recommend avoiding carisoprodol Soma because it is associated with a high risk of abuse and addiction potential not seen with other muscle relaxants. Metabolized to meprobamate, a drug classified as a controlled substance because of abuse and addiction potential. This analysis reviewed more than studies, including 52 trials for treating musculoskeletal conditions, nine systematic reviews, and three meta-analyses.
DERP is a first-of-its-kind multi-state initiative to evaluate the comparative effectiveness and safety of hundreds of prescription drugs. We also relied on Cochrane reviews, low back pain guidelines from the American College of Physicians and the American Pain Society, and other articles. An additional literature search was conducted to capture the most recent published studies available on muscle relaxants. A consultant to Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs is also a member of the Oregon-based research team, which has no financial interest in any pharmaceutical company or product.
The full DERP review of the muscle- relaxant drugs is available here. This is a long and technical document written for physicians. These materials are made possible by a grant from the state Attorney General Consumer and Prescriber Education Grant Program, which is funded by the multi-state settlement of consumer-fraud claims regarding the marketing of the prescription drug Neurontin gabapentin.
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Need further assistance? Please call Member Services at Subscribers only Sign in or Subscribe now! Forgot password? Check this box if you wish to have a copy mailed to you. At a glance If you've ever had a back or neck muscle spasm, you know it can be exceptionally painful, and even debilitating. Related Topics 2-page summary Spanish 2-page summary.
How do you treat your muscle pain or spasms? Table 1. Muscle relaxants Generic name Brand name s Available as generic? Who needs a muscle relaxant? How well do they work? A small study found that blueberry supplementation may improve exercise performance and decrease inflammatory markers. Reducing inflammation can help the muscles relax and recover after exercise.
A review looking at exercise-induced muscle damage in women found that supplementing with whey and casein, two types of protein, reduced muscle damage. Another small study looked at 16 novice marathon runners. Runners who received a combination of protein and carbohydrate during the race felt less muscle soreness 72 hours after the marathon than those who had consumed carbohydrate only.
Various protein powders are available for purchase online. Magnesium is vital for nearly all bodily functions. It is especially important for proper muscle contractions. People can also take magnesium supplements, although older adults and infants should only take these if a doctor prescribes them. High doses of magnesium may cause stomach cramps and diarrhea. People can buy magnesium supplements in health food stores, drug stores, or online.
Turmeric, cinnamon , and ginger all contain curcumin, which has anti-inflammatory properties. Some research has shown that curcumin may decrease inflammatory markers after exercise. Taking a curcumin supplement or incorporating turmeric, cinnamon, or ginger into a healthful diet may help relax the muscles. People can purchase curcumin online. Pomegranates contain large amounts of polyphenols.
The antioxidant capacity of their juice is potentially three times higher than that of green tea. One study on elite weightlifters found that pomegranate juice may help speed up muscle recovery. Pomegranate juice is available for purchase online. Arnica is a common ingredient in creams and oils for reducing bruising. People should only use arnica topically because ingesting high doses can be life-threatening. While some people use arnica as a muscle relaxer, researchers have yet to prove its effectiveness.
Some older studies on marathon runners found that the use of arnica might reduce muscle soreness. However, another study cited in the same review found that it had no effect.
Capsaicin occurs naturally in the pith or fleshy part of chili peppers, and it may provide effective pain relief for people with fibromyalgia.
Some research has shown that applying capsaicin to the skin could have a positive effect on muscle soreness. Capsaicin cream is available for purchase online. However, capsaicin may be more appropriate as a treatment for nerve pain rather than inflammatory muscle pain. Whether you experience back pain, muscle spasms, arthritis, or injury-related chronic pain, muscle relaxers offer fast pain relief, allowing your body to function as usual.
Consider this guide your roadmap to the top muscle relaxers on the market. In general, pain relief treatments fall into one of three categories: over-the-counter OTC , prescription, and natural. Determining the best muscle relaxer depends entirely on your specific condition and pain level. When in doubt, consult your healthcare provider.
Over-the-counter remedies: OTC pain relievers are often the first line of defense against pain, inflammation, and tension. They can work wonders for milder conditions like neck and lower back pain. Because of their more serious side effects, prescription muscle relaxers are designed for short-term use, after which your doctor will transition to other drugs or treatments. Natural remedies: For minor soreness and stress-related symptoms, the only treatment you need might be drawn straight from nature.
Before rushing off to the doctor for an examination and potential prescription, you might be able to administer an effective plant-based therapy right from home. These are the medications that you can find while perusing the aisles at your local pharmacy or convenience store. If you roll your ankle at the gym or wake up with back pain, try one of these before asking your doctor for a prescription.
In cases like these, doctors may look to prescription muscle relaxants as a more effective, albeit temporary, answer. Lewis says. Recent studies have shown that skeletal muscle relaxants SMRs , or antispasmodics, outperform anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs , like ibuprofen and acetaminophen, in relieving severe pain associated with conditions like acute back pain.
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