Muscle Relaxers: What They Are, Uses, Side Effects & Types

Lower back pain accounts for twenty percent of physician visits in the US (1). Back pain and related musculoskeletal disorders can interfere with daily routines, sleep, job performance, and your ability to enjoy your hobbies.

• Baclofen is a common antispastic prescribed to treat these conditions.
• Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases.
• Chronic pain from muscle spasticity related to neurological disease or injury responds best to baclofen.
• The Tizanidine vs. Baclofen 10 pill comparison shows us that the latter has fewer side effects than Lioresal but the same level of effectiveness.

Some drugs are safer and more effective for managing spine pain in people ages 65 and older, according to research published online June 27, 2022, by Drugs and Aging. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved one CBD prescription drug, Epidiolex, which may be prescribed to treat two rare forms of epilepsy. While Epidiolex is regulated by the FDA as a prescription drug, “many [OTC CBD products] are not regulated, [so] the effectiveness between products is not consistent,” Dr. Lewis said.

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Since both of these drugs affect the skeletal muscles, they are not available over the counter; they shouldn’t be taken lightly. These drugs can help relieve muscular pain symptoms, but they come with their range of side effects. Therefore, there needs to be a closer look at Flexeril vs. Baclofen to weigh out the side effects of each.

You should work with your healthcare providers to develop a comprehensive recovery plan that includes rest, stretching, physical therapy, and exercise to treat muscle spasms. However, depending on the severity, you may need to take medications called skeletal muscle relaxants to treat muscle spasms that are beyond at-home treatments. Baclofen is both a muscle relaxant and an anti spasmodic medication.

What are the differences between the side effects of baclofen vs. Flexeril? Can I take them together?

The drug is found in breast milk in traces of lactating mothers taking it orally. There isn’t any information available about Gablofen pregnancy effects when the drug is taken intrathecally. Whether the mother is taking Baclofen or Flexeril, she must do so after discussing it with the doctor in charge of treatment.

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Prescription muscle relaxers can be effective in treating spasticity, muscle spasms and muscle-related pain. But it’s important to weigh the possible risks of these medications, including their side effects and addiction potential. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about all the options available to treat your symptoms. Some of these medications work on the central nervous system (brain, brain stem, and spinal cord); typically, they inhibit activity between the nerve signals in the brain and the spinal cord. In other words, this type of muscle relaxant provides the muscle-relaxing effect by interfering with nerve activity, in turn, reducing the pain and discomfort caused by a muscle spasm.

What are the side effects of muscle relaxers?

Some people find that taking an OTC pain reliever and muscle relaxant together provides maximum benefit, especially at night, to help with sleep problems and reduce daytime drowsiness. Skeletal muscle relaxants are a sedating class of medications used to treat spasticity and pain. Their sedative properties can pose a risk for geriatric patients who are predisposed to falls. It is important for the pharmacist to assess the patient before dispensing medications. Short-term use of skeletal muscle relaxants may be appropriate for certain conditions but should not be used long-term, regardless of interaction.

Tizanidine and baclofen are both muscle relaxant medications that are used to treat muscle spasticity. Muscle spasticity is a symptom that causes uncomfortable muscle tension or spasms as a result of certain medical conditions or injuries. These two medications are used in similar settings to treat similar issues. However, there are a few differences that may be relevant factors when you’re looking for the right medication for your needs. Learn more about tizanidine and baclofen and how they compare to one another.

Muscle relaxers can cause more serious side effects like fainting and blurred vision. Talk to your provider if you experience any bothersome side effects. Depending on the type of muscle relaxer, there are different tizanidine hcl vs flexeril forms in which you can take them, such as tablets, capsules, solutions or injections. If you notice a change in the results of your blood or urine sugar tests or if you have any questions, check with your doctor.

The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. The perceived benefits of taking any medication should always outweigh the potential risks. Cyclobenzaprine was originally intended for use as an antidepressant (8). As such, if you’re on other antidepressants while taking cyclobenzaprine, your doctor should closely monitor your treatment course (8). You shouldn’t use cyclobenzaprine if you have hyperthyroidism, arrhythmias, heart failure, heart conduction issues, or are recovering from a heart attack (8).