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Cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxant. It works by blocking nerve impulses (or pain sensations) that are sent to your brain.

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About Soma ( Carisoprodol ) – controlled substance and it is illegal to buy or sell it online. Our pharmacies are all US licensed, and we strictly follow US Laws and we do not sell it.  Please do not ask us about it.

Carisoprodol, sold under the brand name Soma among others, is a medication used for musculoskeletal pain.  Use is only approved for up to three weeks.  Effects generally begin within half an hour and last for up to six hours. It is taken by mouth.

Common side effects include headache, dizziness, and sleepiness. Serious side effect may include addiction, allergic reactions, and seizures. In people with a sulfa allergy certain formulations may result in problems. Safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding is not clear. How it works is not clear. Some of its effects are believed to occur following being converted into meprobamate.

Carisoprodol is meant to be used along with rest, physical therapy and other measure to relax muscles after strains, sprains and muscle injuries. It comes in tablet format and is taken by the mouth three times a day and before bed.

Carisoprodol was approved for medical use in the United States in 1959. Its approval in Europe was withdrawn in 2008.  It is available as a generic medication. In the United States the wholesale cost is less than US$0.10 per dose.  In 2017, it was the 255th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than one million prescriptions. In the United States, it is a Schedule IV controlled substance.

Soma ( Carisoprodol ) is a controlled prescription and we can not sell it online. It is also illegal for you to buy Soma ( Carisoprodol ) online.

Muscle Relaxers: A List of Prescription Medications

Prescription medications are divided into two groups: antispasmodics and antispastics. Antispasmodics are used to treat muscle spasms, and antispastics are used to treat muscle spasticity. Some antispasmodics, such as tizanidine, can be used to treat muscle spasticity. However, antispastics should not be used to treat muscle spasms.

Common Muscle Relaxants

Muscle relaxers are usually prescribed to treat back pain in conjunction with rest and physical therapy. Common muscle relaxants include:

  • Baclofen. Muscle tightness and muscle spasms, including those related to spine injuries, may be eased with baclofen. The medication may be helpful in treating multiple sclerosis and stabbing nerve pain. It is available as a tablet and can be taken by children as young as 12 years old. Some common side effects could include nausea and vomiting, confusion, drowsiness, headache, or muscle weakness. Baclofen is rated C in the FDA’s A through X pregnancy safety ranking for medications, with A being the safest. The C category means that the medication should only be used if the benefits outweigh the risks.
  • Benzodiazepines. In addition to treating anxiety, alcohol withdrawal, and seizure disorders, such as epilepsy, benzodiazepines can also treat muscle spasms and skeletal pain. Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), and temazepam (Restoril), are typically only intended for short-term use. This limitation is due to their habit-forming potential and because they alter sleep cycles, leading to sleep difficulties once the drug is stopped. Benzodiazepines are sold as tablets, liquid, injections, and rectal gels. People who have myasthenia gravis, severe liver disease, serious breathing troubles, or some forms of glaucoma, should avoid taking diazepam. All benzodiazepines are rated D by the FDA for safety during pregnancy and are not recommended for women who are pregnant.
  • Carisoprodol (Soma). Carisoprodol relaxes muscles and eases pain and stiffness caused by acute bone and muscle problems, often caused by an injury. It is taken by mouth in tablet form and is also available in combination with aspirin or aspirin and codeine. Carisoprodol can be habit-forming, particularly if used in conjunction with alcohol or other drugs that have a sedative effect, including opioids (such as codeine). Common side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, and headache. People with a history of blood disorders, kidney or liver disease, and seizures may need to avoid Carisoprodol. It is rated C in the FDA’s pregnancy safety ranking for medications.
  • Chlorzoxazone (Lorzone). Chlorzoxazone is used for the relief of discomfort from acute, painful, musculoskeletal conditions. Chlorzoxazone is available as a tablet. Common side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, and nausea. Chlorzoxazone is not recommended for people with liver disease. It has not been rated by the FDA for safety during pregnancy.
  • Cyclobenzaprine ( Generic Flexeril )
    Cyclobenzaprine ( Generic Flexeril )

    Cyclobenzaprine (Amrix, Fexmid, FlexePax Kit, FusePaq Tabradol). Cyclobenzaprine eases stiffness and pain from muscle cramps, also called muscle spasms. It is available as a tablet and extended-release capsule. Cyclobenzaprine itself is not intended for long-term use (more than 2 to 3 weeks). Common side effects include blurred vision, dizziness or drowsiness, and dry mouth. It is not advised for those with an overactive thyroid, heart problems, or liver disease. Cyclobenzaprine is rated B by the FDA for safety during pregnancy, making it the safest muscle relaxant to use while pregnant.

  • Dantrolene (Dantrium). Dantrolene helps control chronic spasticity related to spinal injuries. It is also used for conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, and cerebral palsy. Dantrolene is taken as a capsule or intravenous powder for injection. Drowsiness and sensitivity to light are common side effects. It can cause severe liver problems, and should not be taken by people with active liver disease. The FDA has given dantrolene a C rating for safety in pregnancy.
  • Metaxalone (Skelaxin, Metaxall, and Metaxall CP, Lorvatus PharmaPak). Metaxalone targets pain and muscle spasms from sprains, strains, and muscle injuries. It is available as a tablet or injection. Common side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. Metaxalone is generally not recommended for people with a known tendency to become anemic, and who have kidney or liver disease. Metaxalone may affect blood sugar tests for people with diabetes. The FDA has not rated metaxalone for safety during pregnancy.

    Methocarbamol (Generic Robaxin)
    Methocarbamol (Generic Robaxin)
  • Methocarbamol (Robaxin, Robaxin-750). Methocarbamol eases acute muscle and bone pain. It can be taken as a tablet or by injection. Common side effects include dizziness, headache, nausea, flushing, and blurred vision. Methocarbamol is generally not recommended to people with renal disease or failure, or a history of allergic reaction to the medication. The FDA has given methocarbamol a C rating for safety during pregnancy.
  • Orphenadrine. Orphenadrine is a medication used to relieve pain and stiffness caused by muscle injuries. It is available as an extended-release tablet. Common side effects include dry mouth, lightheadedness, difficult urination, heartburn, nausea and vomiting. It is generally not recommended to people with previous sensitivities to the ingredients, myasthenia gravis, those with glaucoma or certain types of ulcers. The FDA has given orphenadrine a C rating for safety during pregnancy.

    Zanaflex (Generic Tizanidine)
    Zanaflex (Generic Tizanidine)
  • Tizanidine (Comfort Pac with Tizanidine, Zanaflex). Tizanidine is used to treat muscle spasms caused by spinal cord injuries and other conditions such as multiple sclerosis. Tizanidine is available in tablet and capsule form and absorbs differently depending on whether it is taken on an empty stomach or with food. Common side effects include dry mouth, dizziness, constipation and tiredness. It should not be used by people taking fluvoxamine or ciprofloxacin or those who have liver disease. Tizanidine is rated in the C category for safety during pregnancy.

Antispasmodics: Centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxants (SMRs)

Centrally acting SMRs are used in addition to rest and physical therapy to help relieve muscle spasms. They’re thought to work by causing a sedative effect or by preventing your nerves from sending pain signals to your brain.

You should only use these muscle relaxants for up to 2 or 3 weeks. The safety of longer-term use is not yet known.

While antispasmodics can be used to treat muscle spasms, they have not been shown to work better than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen. In addition, they have more side effects than NSAIDs or acetaminophen.

The more common side effects of centrally acting SMRs include:

  • drowsiness
  • dizziness
  • headache
  • nervousness
  • reddish-purple or orange urine
  • lowered blood pressure upon standing

You should talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks of these medications for the treatment of your muscle spasms.

List of centrally acting SMRs

Generic name Brand name Form Generic available
carisoprodol Soma tablet yes
carisoprodol/aspirin not available tablet yes
carisoprodol/aspirin/codeine not available tablet yes
chlorzoxazone Parafon Forte, Lorzone tablet yes
cyclobenzaprine Fexmid, Flexeril, Amrix tablet, extended-release capsule tablet only
metaxalone Skelaxin, Metaxall tablet yes
methocarbamol Robaxin tablet yes
orphenadrine Norflex extended-release tablet yes
tizanidine Zanaflex tablet, capsule yes

Antispastics

Antispastics are used to treat muscle spasticity. They should not be used to treat muscle spasms. These drugs include:

Baclofen: Baclofen (Lioresal) is used to relieve spasticity caused by MS. It’s not fully understood how it works, but it seems to block nerve signals from the spinal cord that cause muscles to spasm. Side effects can include drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, and fatigue.

Dantrolene: Dantrolene (Dantrium) is used to treat muscle spasms caused by spinal cord injury, stroke, cerebral palsy, or MS. It works by acting directly on the skeletal muscle to relax the muscle spasm. Side effects can include drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, and fatigue.

Diazepam: Diazepam (Valium) is used to relieve muscle spasms caused by inflammation, trauma, or muscle spasticity. It works by increasing the activity of a certain neurotransmitter to decrease the occurrence of muscle spasms. Diazepam is a sedative. Side effects can include drowsiness, fatigue, and muscle weakness.

List of antispastics

Generic name Brand name Form Generic available
baclofen Lioresal, Gablofen, Lioresal tablet, injection yes
dantrolene Dantrium tablet yes
diazepam Valium oral suspension, tablet, injection yes

Warnings for prescription muscle relaxants

Muscle relaxants such as carisoprodol and diazepam can be habit forming. Be sure to take your medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor.

Muscle relaxants can also cause withdrawal symptoms, such as seizures or hallucinations (sensing things that aren’t real). Do not suddenly stop taking your medication, especially if you’ve been taking it for a long time.

Also, muscle relaxants depress your central nervous system (CNS), making it hard to pay attention or stay awake. While taking a muscle relaxant, avoid activities that require mental alertness or coordination, such as driving or using heavy machinery.

You should not take muscle relaxants with:

  • alcohol
  • CNS depressant drugs, such as opioids or psychotropics
  • sleeping medications
  • herbal supplements such as St. John’s wort

Talk to your doctor about how you can safely use muscle relaxants if you:

  • are older than 65 years
  • have a mental health problem or brain disorder
  • have liver problems

Off-label medications for spasticity

Doctors can use certain medications to treat spasticity even when the drugs are not approved for that purpose by the U.S. Food and Drug Association (FDA). This is called off-label drug use. The following drugs are not actually muscle relaxants, but they can still help relieve symptoms of spasticity.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are sedatives that can help relax muscles. They work by increasing the effects of certain neurotransmitters, which are chemicals that relay messages between your brain cells.

Examples of benzodiazepines include:

  • clonazepam (Klonopin)
  • lorazepam (Ativan)
  • alprazolam (Xanax)

Side effects of benzodiazepines can include drowsiness and problems with balance and memory. These drugs can also be habit forming.

Clonidine

Clonidine (Kapvay) is thought to work by preventing your nerves from sending pain signals to your brain or by causing a sedative effect.

Clonidine should not be used with other muscle relaxants. Taking it with similar drugs increases your risk of side effects. For instance, taking clonidine with tizanidine can cause very low blood pressure.

Clonidine is available in brand-name and generic versions.

Gabapentin

Gabapentin (Neurontin) is an anticonvulsant drug typically used to relieve seizures. It’s not fully known how gabapentin works to relieve muscle spasticity.  Gabapentin is available in brand-name and generic versions.

A List of 30 Prescription Muscle Relaxants

The use of prescription medications should always be supervised by a healthcare professional.

  1. Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)
  2. Baclofen (Lioresal)
  3. Methocarbamol (Robaxin)
  4. Tizanidine (Zanaflex)
  5. Carisoprodol (Soma)
  6. Diazepam (Valium)
  7. Chlorzoxazone (Parafon Forte)
  8. Orphenadrine (Norflex)
  9. Metaxalone (Skelaxin)
  10. Dantrolene (Dantrium)
  11. Eperisone (Myonal)
  12. Thiocolchicoside (Muscoril)
  13. Pridinol (Mydocalm)
  14. Baclofen (Gablofen)
  15. Cyclobenzaprine extended-release (Amrix)
  16. Mephenesin (Equagesic)
  17. Meprobamate (Miltown)
  18. Chlorzoxazone/Paracetamol (Paraflex)
  19. Tolperisone (Mydocalm)
  20. Tetrazepam (Myolastan)
  21. Mephenesin (Equagesic)
  22. Tubocurarine (Tubarine)
  23. Vecuronium (Norcuron)
  24. Atracurium (Tracrium)
  25. Rocuronium (Zemuron)
  26. Cisatracurium (Nimbex)
  27. Doxacurium (Nuromax)
  28. Pancuronium (Pavulon)
  29. Succinylcholine (Anectine)
  30. Atracurium (Tracrium)

Over-the-counter (OTC) Muscle Relaxants

Over-the-counter (OTC) muscle relaxants are generally limited compared to prescription options. Many OTC options are combination medications that may include analgesics (pain relievers) along with muscle relaxant properties.  Here’s a list of 30 OTC products that may have muscle relaxant properties:

  1. Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
  2. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
  3. Naproxen (Aleve)
  4. Aspirin (Bayer)
  5. Acetaminophen + Aspirin + Caffeine (Excedrin Tension Headache)
  6. Acetaminophen + Diphenhydramine (Tylenol PM)
  7. Ibuprofen + Diphenhydramine (Advil PM)
  8. Naproxen Sodium (Aleve PM)
  9. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
  10. Doxylamine (Unisom SleepTabs)
  11. Diphenhydramine + Zinc Acetate Lozenges (Zicam Nighttime Cough & Cold)
  12. Chlorpheniramine + Methscopolamine + Phenylephrine (A.R.M. Allergy Relief Night Time)
  13. Ibuprofen + Pseudoephedrine (Advil Cold & Sinus)
  14. Diphenhydramine + Naproxen (Aleve PM)
  15. Acetaminophen + Guaifenesin + Phenylephrine (Theraflu Multi-Symptom Severe Cold)
  16. Ibuprofen + Phenylephrine (Advil Cold & Flu)
  17. Diphenhydramine + Phenylephrine + Acetaminophen (Alka-Seltzer Plus Night Severe Cold & Cough Liquid Gels)
  18. Diphenhydramine + Naproxen Sodium (Aleve PM)
  19. Doxylamine + Pyridoxine (Diclegis)
  20. Diphenhydramine + Phenylephrine (Sudafed PE Severe Cold)
  21. Acetaminophen + Dextromethorphan + Doxylamine (NyQuil Severe Cold & Flu)
  22. Acetaminophen + Phenylephrine + Dextromethorphan (Tylenol Cold + Flu Severe)
  23. Diphenhydramine + Naproxen Sodium (Aleve PM)
  24. Acetaminophen + Chlorpheniramine + Dextromethorphan (Robitussin Severe Multi-Symptom Cough, Cold + Flu Nighttime)
  25. Ibuprofen + Diphenhydramine (Advil PM)
  26. Acetaminophen + Diphenhydramine (Tylenol PM)
  27. Diphenhydramine + Ibuprofen (Advil PM)
  28. Acetaminophen + Diphenhydramine (Tylenol PM)
  29. Doxylamine + Pyridoxine (Diclegis)
  30. Diphenhydramine + Naproxen Sodium (Aleve PM)

Over-the-counter Options for Muscle Spasms

OTC treatment is recommended as first-line therapy for muscle spasms caused by conditions such as acute lower back pain or tension headache. This means you should try OTC treatments before prescription medications.

OTC treatment options include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, or a combination of both. Your doctor or pharmacist can help you choose an OTC treatment.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

NSAIDs work by blocking your body from making certain substances that cause inflammation and pain. NSAIDs are available in generic and brand-name versions. They’re typically sold over the counter. Stronger versions are available by prescription.

NSAIDs come as oral tablets, capsules, or suspensions. They also come as chewable tablets for children. Side effects of these drugs can include upset stomach and dizziness.

Examples of NSAIDs include:

  • ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
  • naproxen (Aleve)

Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is thought to work by blocking your body from making certain substances that cause pain. Acetaminophen is available in generic and brand-name versions. It comes as immediate-release and extended release oral tablets and capsules, orally disintegrating tablets, chewable tablets, and oral solutions.

The more common side effects of acetaminophen can include nausea and upset stomach.

Can cannabis be used to treat muscle spasticity or spasm?

Yes, in some cases.

Cannabis, more commonly known as marijuana, is legal in certain states for medicinal uses. Muscle spasm is one of the health conditions that cannabis is used to treat. It helps relieve muscle spasms by reducing pain and inflammation.

Cannabis has also been used to treat muscle spasticity due to multiple sclerosis (MS). In many research trialsTrusted Source, cannabis has been shown to be effective alone and in combination with other treatments for reducing muscle spasticity symptoms.   However, there’s limited information available on the use of cannabis for muscle spasticity that’s not associated with MS.

If you’re being treated for MS and still have muscle spasms or spasticity, adding cannabis may help. Talk to your doctor about whether it’s a good option for you.

You should keep certain factors in mind. The more common side effects of cannabis include dizziness, vomiting, urinary tract infections, and a relapse of MS. Also, limited information is available about drug interactions and other usage warnings.

Risks Associated with Muscle Relaxers

Muscle relaxers are a group of drugs that have a sedative effect on the body. They work through the brain, rather than directly on the muscles. Muscle relaxants are generally used for a few days and up to 3 weeks, but are sometimes prescribed for chronic back pain or neck pain.

To minimize risk, the doctor should be informed of any history of seizures, liver disease, and any other medical conditions or concerns. Women should inform their doctors if they are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding.

  • Sleepiness. Because muscle relaxers are total body relaxants, they typically induce grogginess or sleepiness. As a result, it is not safe to drive or make important decisions while taking muscle relaxers. Muscle relaxers are often suggested for evening use due to their sedative effect.
  • Interactions with alcohol. Drinking alcohol can be especially dangerous when taking muscle relaxers. The sedative effect of the medication is intensified with alcohol use, and combining the two can be fatal.See Alcohol Avoidance
  • Allergic reactions. No medication should be taken if the person has had an allergic reaction to it in the past, even if the reaction seemed mild. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include swelling in the throat or extremities, trouble breathing, hives, and chest tightness.
  • Potential for abuse. Muscle relaxers have a risk of misuse and abuse. Some muscle relaxers, such as cyclobenzaprine, can be habit-forming on their own. Others may be taken in conjunction with other drugs, such as opioids, to create a high, and are therefore more likely to be abused.See Opioids for Back Pain: Potential for Abuse, Assessment Tools, and Addiction Treatment
  • Tapering off. Stopping a muscle relaxer abruptly can be harmful. Instead, the doctor will prescribe a gradual reduction in dosage.

Concern About Overuse of Muscle Relaxants

The use of muscle relaxers is controversial in the medical community. The growing use of these medications has drawn concern about overuse, adverse side effects, and limited evidence of their effectiveness—especially when used on an ongoing basis for a chronic condition.

Research is mixed on muscle relaxers. A number of research studies and analyses have found muscle relaxants to be more helpful than a placebo in easing symptoms of nonspecific acute low back pain in the short term.1,2 Other research, however, found that people visiting an emergency room for back pain received no additional benefit from taking muscle relaxers.3

What is the best muscle relaxer?

It’s difficult to declare one muscle relaxant better than all others because each type has its own advantages and uses. 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. Typically, your doctor might start you out on an OTC medication, and if that doesn’t provide the relief you need, he or she may write a prescription for something higher-grade.

Prescription drugs: For more chronic pain and conditions where OTC medications just won’t cut it, your doctor may prescribe something stronger. 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.

What is the Best Over-the-counter (OTC) Medicine for Muscle Pain?

These are the medications that you can find while perusing the aisles at your local pharmacy or convenience store. Most of them are household names, and it’s not uncommon to keep them on hand, stashed in a medicine cabinet, just in case. Even though OTC medications are easy to obtain, they’ll do the job for many aches and pains, and doctors often recommend them prior to prescribing stronger treatment options.

“OTC NSAIDS, like ibuprofen and naproxen, are a good first line agent to decrease inflammation surrounding an injury,” recommends Joanna Lewis, Pharm.D., creator of The Pharmacist’s Guide. They might not have the same potency of high-grade muscle relaxants, but they’re still effective and have very few side effects. 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.

  1. Advil (ibuprofen): This is a staple of parents, doctors, and athletes alike. Ibuprofen is one of the most widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) available. As such, Advil doesn’t just remedy pain, but also inflammation as well. It’s highly versatile. Use it to treat low back pain, osteoarthritis, menstrual cramps, fever, headaches, migraines, sprains, and other minor injuries. Low doses are available over the counter, but a doctor can prescribe higher doses as well.
  2. Motrin IB (ibuprofen): Don’t be fooled by the different brand name. Motrin IB and Advil are the same drug. Therefore, they shouldn’t be taken together, as it could increase the risk of overdose.
  3. Aleve (naproxen): Another medicine cabinet staple, naproxen is similar to ibuprofen in many ways. It’s also an NSAID, so it works by reducing inflammation. It’s useful in treating muscle pain, headaches, migraines, osteoarthritis, fever, cramps, and minor injuries. The main difference between naproxen and ibuprofen is their dosing. You can take naproxen every eight to 12 hours and ibuprofen every four to six, so Aleve is slightly longer-lasting.
  4. Aspirin: One more NSAID for you. Aspirin treats many of the same conditions, relieving pain and reducing inflammation. However, daily doses of aspirin have been proven effective at reducing the risk of blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks in some people. Ask your doctor before using for clot prevention. If you’re a candidate, you will likely take a “baby” aspirin, or 81 mg, coated tablet daily. Common brand names include Bayer or Ecotrin.
  5. Tylenol (acetaminophen): Unlike NSAIDs, acetaminophen focuses solely on treating pain—not inflammation. It’s used for muscle aches, headaches, migraines, back and neck pain, fevers, etc. However, if swelling and inflammation is the underlying cause of your pain, acetaminophen will not be nearly as effective as NSAIDs like those listed above. Acetaminophen’s wide range of uses and relatively few side effects make it the most popular OTC pain reliever worldwide.

What are the Best Prescription Muscle Relaxers?

There are certain times when over-the-counter medications simply aren’t enough. If you’ve been taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen consistently but are still dealing with back pain, spasms, or other issues, it might be time for something more robust. In cases like these, doctors may look to prescription muscle relaxants as a more effective, albeit temporary, answer.

“A pulled back muscle or neck pain may require a doctor’s visit or other diagnostic tests to get to the heart of the issue,” Dr. Lewis says. “There are several good prescription medications like methocarbamol, cyclobenzaprine, and metaxalone.”

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. On the flip side, they also have potentially more serious side effects and shouldn’t be used for long-term pain management. Even so, these prescription drugs are effective and reliable options for short-term pain relief:

  1. Flexeril or Amrix (cyclobenzaprine): Cyclobenzaprine is a popular and relatively inexpensive generic muscle relaxant often used short-term to treat muscle spasms and pain related to sprains, strains, etc. A typical dose is 5 to 10 mg at bedtime for two to three weeks, although your doctor might approve up to 30 mg daily (taken as one 5 or 10 mg tablet every eight hours) if your case is more severe. Side effects include drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness, and fatigue.
  2. Robaxin (methocarbamol): Commonly used to treat severe muscle spasms, back pain, and occasionally tetanus spasms, methocarbamol is administered orally in up to 1500 mg doses or intravenously in 10 ml of 1000 mg. This dosing is usually higher in the first 48 to 72 hours, then decreased. Patients may experience drowsiness, dizziness, blurred vision and—in intravenous doses—reactions at the injection site. However, it’s generally less of a sedative than most other muscle relaxants.
  3. Skelaxin (metaxalone): While it’s slightly more expensive than other SMRs, like methocarbamol, the upside of metaxalone is that it delivers the same effectiveness with a relatively low rate of side effects. In three to four 800 mg doses per day, it acts on your central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and may cause drowsiness, dizziness, irritability, and nausea, but metaxalone doesn’t sedate as heavily as the alternatives.
  4. Soma (carisoprodol): Similar to Robaxin, Soma is generally used to treat pain associated with acute musculoskeletal conditions. Carisoprodol acts on the central nervous system to intercept neurotransmitters relayed between the nerves and brain. It’s administered in 250-350 mg doses three times per day (and at bedtime) for up to three weeks. Common side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, and headaches. It has also been associated with addiction, so it should be used with caution.
  5. Valium (diazepam): Most often, you’ll hear about Valium as a treatment for anxiety disorders and alcohol withdrawal symptoms, but it can also be an effective medication for muscle spasms. Diazepam is a benzodiazepine (like Xanax) that decreases the sensitivity of certain brain receptors. Dosage varies depending on the condition, but for skeletal muscle spasms, it’s typically 2-10 mg, three or four times per day. Because it slows down brain activity, Valium frequently causes fatigue and muscle weakness so, like other muscle relaxants, you shouldn’t combine it with alcohol or other drugs.
  6. Lioresal (baclofen): Unlike the muscle relaxants above it on this list, baclofen is primarily used to treat spasticity (continuous muscle tightness or stiffness) caused by multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury. It is given as an oral tablet, or can be injected into the spinal theca. Most often, baclofen is prescribed on a schedule that increases the dosage gradually every three days. It can cause sleepiness, dizziness, nausea, hypotension (low blood pressure), headache, convulsions, and hypotonia (weak muscle tone), so even though it’s effective for spasticity treatment, it might not be the best option for pain relief.
  7. Lorzone (chlorzoxazone): This is yet another SMR that acts on the central nervous system to treat the pain and spasms associated with muscle and bone conditions. It’s fairly well-tolerated despite occasional drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, and malaise. In rare cases, it can cause gastrointestinal bleeding, so doctors will often opt for other medications. Typical dosage is 250 to 750 mg three or four times daily.
  8. Dantrium (dantrolene): Similar to baclofen, dantrolene is primarily used to treat spasticity. It’s effective for spasms associated with spinal cord injury, stroke, cerebral palsy, or multiple sclerosis, and is also sometimes used for malignant hyperthermia. Common side effects include diarrhea, drowsiness, dizziness, fatigue, and muscle weakness. The starting dosage is 25 mg daily and it can be increased slowly if needed, up to 100 mg three times daily. In rare cases of overuse or long-term use, it has been attributed to liver damage.
  9. Norflex (orphenadrine): In addition to treating injury-related pain and spasms, orphenadrine is also effective in relieving the trembling from Parkinson’s disease. Some patients may experience dry mouth along with heart palpitations, blurred vision, weakness, nausea, headache, dizziness, constipation, and drowsiness, but usually only with increased dosages. However, this muscle relaxant can sometimes cause anaphylaxis, a type of severe allergic reaction. So, for basic muscle pain, doctors often go with one of the other options on this list. Standard dosing is 100 mg, twice per day.
  10. Zanaflex (tizanidine): Tizanidine is primarily used to treat stiffness and spasms associated with multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy, similar to baclofen. Both show effectiveness, although tizanidine sometimes shows fewer side effects, which can include dry mouth, tiredness, weakness, dizziness. It’s administered in 2 or 4 mg doses.

 

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