![]() 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. There are few high quality studies that have compared one muscle relaxant against another, so we can't determine whether any one muscle relaxant is a standout. There is not enough good quality research on the other medications-chlorzoxazone, metaxalone, and methocarbamol-to determine how well they relieve pain. Both drugs appear to be more effective than placebo for relieving pain due to spasms. One analysis of 10 studies of people who took cyclobenzaprine compared with people who took a sugar pill (placebo) to treat back or neck pain found that after 10 to 21 days, people with either types of pain who took cyclobenzaprine said their pain was reduced by about one point on 10-point pain or function scale, compared with those who took a placebo.Ĭarisoprodol and orphenadrine have been studied less, with only four trials for each drug. ![]() In more than 20 studies-most of which involved people with back or neck pain and lasted for two weeks-cyclobenzaprine was consistently more effective than placebo on various measures of pain relief, functional ability, and muscle spasm. Many of the muscle relaxants, including carisoprodol, chlorzoxazone, cyclobenzaprine, metaxalone, methocarbamol, and orphenadrine, are not recommended for use in people 65 years or older because the sedating effects could lead to accidents or falls.Ĭyclobenzaprine is the best studied of the muscle relaxants. Those side effects, including dizziness and drowsiness, can be a concern for pilots, drivers, and people who use heavy or dangerous equipment. When choosing among the many muscle relaxants, your doctor will take into account the severity of your symptoms, other medical conditions you have, and the common side effects muscle relaxants can cause. Others may find that their muscle spasms make it difficult to sleep, so the sedation associated with the muscle relaxants could be viewed as a desirable side effect in this case. And those with a history of bleeding ulcers, heart problems, or kidney problems may not be able to take ibuprofen or naproxen. For example, some people may not be able to take acetaminophen if they have certain conditions, such as liver disease. ![]() In some situations, muscle relaxants can be a preferred option for a short period. Adding a muscle relaxant to the mix has not been shown in studies to be any better at providing relief from this kind of pain than just taking one of the OTC pain relievers. If those don't help, a good next step is to try over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol and generics), ibuprofen (Advil and generics), or naproxen (Aleve and generics). If you suffer from a headache, back ache, neck pain, or other conditions that cause muscle spasms, first try other therapies that don't involve medications, such as using a heating pad, exercise, biofeedback, or progressive relaxation, massage, or yoga. But some of the drugs pose a risk of serious problems, including liver toxicity and addiction. Many experts think the drugs' side effect of sedation is what actually helps people. ![]() Muscle relaxants are widely used to treat these conditions, although there is limited evidence they actually help relieve symptoms. If you've ever had a back or neck muscle spasm, you know it can be exceptionally painful, and even debilitating.
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