Recommendations generally limit the use of these drugs to a maximum of three weeks, since they have not been shown to work for muscle spasms beyond that duration, and they can cause serious side effects including falls, fractures, vehicle crashes, abuse, dependence, and overdose.
Muscle relaxers have a potential for abuse and addiction. Prolonged use can lead to increased tolerance and physical dependence, especially with Soma. For this reason, muscle relaxers are intended as a short-term treatment not to be prescribed for more than 2-3 weeks.
When used safely and according to doctor's orders, they can be very beneficial. Since muscle spasms are typically healed within two to three weeks, a doctor typically will only prescribe a muscle relaxant for acute rather than chronic pain. They are usually not intended for prolonged use.
Muscle relaxer misuse can lead to an increased risk of overdose, which can result in: Changes in consciousness. Hallucinations. Seizures.
Doxacurium is more potent, but is the least rapid and the longest acting relaxant currently available. When administered in doses of 37 to 80 micrograms/kg, it produces maximum block within 3.5 to 10 min, with a duration of clinical relaxation of 77 to 164 min.
But taking muscle relaxants, especially every day, isn't a good idea, according to our experts at Consumer Reports Best Buy Drugs. In fact, they recommend against taking Soma (generic name carisoprodol) at all because it poses a high risk of abuse and addiction, and isn't very effective.
Adults and children 15 years of age and older—10 milligrams (mg) 3 times a day. The largest amount should be no more than 60 mg (six 10-mg tablets) a day.
Metaxalone
Taken as 800 mg tablets 3 to 4 times a day, metaxalone (Skelaxin) has the fewest reported side effects. It's also the least likely of the muscle relaxants to make you sleepy. It may work better for chronic lower back pain that is flaring up, rather than for pain that is new.
Muscle relaxants can be addictive, so it's ideal to use them for the shortest possible time and keep them away from other adults and children. Because these medications depress the central nervous system, breathing can be affected, and an overdose can be fatal.
Muscle relaxers work to alleviate muscle spasms and pain. Five of the most common muscle relaxers prescribed are carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine, diazepam, metaxalone, and methocarbamol.
In general, people who are addicted may start to experience muscle relaxer withdrawal symptoms a few days after quitting them abruptly. These symptoms may persist for a few days or a few weeks. If you're addicted to muscle relaxers and you want to get sober, quitting cold turkey is never recommended.
Potential Side Effects
Blurred vision; dizziness; drowsiness; dry mouth; weight gain.
While muscle relaxants may provide short-term relief of acute lower back pain and muscle spasms, these medications can cause adverse side effects. Some muscle relaxers can also be addictive. For these reasons, a person should limit their use as much as possible.
Examples include Skelaxin and Baclofen. Soma is a muscle relaxer with a dual effect; when it is metabolized in the liver it is degraded into a molecule that has direct opiate activity with little or no addicting properties.
Myotonia is a rare condition where your muscles are unable to relax after they contract. It can impact muscles throughout your body. Gene changes cause myotonia, and this condition can be passed down through families. Symptoms vary by the type of myotonia.
The problem with muscle relaxants — and it's a big problem — is this: Although the drugs are effective and have been in use for decades, most of them work through the central nervous system, causing general sedation and not by targeting muscle tissue.
Carisoprodol. Carisoprodol helps alleviate musculoskeletal pain. It's a schedule IV drug (meaning it's a controlled substance) that is prone to abuse. While its potency usually sets within 30 minutes, its effectiveness is only known to last up to three weeks.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may help the pain caused by nerve inflammation. Over-the-counter muscle relaxers can also provide a certain degree of relief as well.
Common muscle relaxants include Flexeril, Soma, Baclofen, Robaxin, and Tizanidine. Nerve membrane stabilizers are another class of medications often used to treat the numbness, tingling, shooting, stabbing, or radiating pain associated with a pinched nerve.
Higher effectiveness for short-term pain relief has been reported with the addition of skeletal muscle relaxant to paracetamol or an NSAID than with the analgesics alone [9–12].