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

However, Tizanidine is more effective in providing longer-lasting relief in patients with spasticity caused by multiple sclerosis. Whereas, Cyclobenzaprine can’t be taken for more than a few weeks at a time, so it is more effective for acute muscle spasms and pain. There is insufficient evidence to suggest that one skeletal muscle relaxant is better than the others.

On a case-by-case basis, they are used depending on which one is most appropriate. There is currently no clinical evidence that shows a direct comparison between these two medicines (Chou R, Peterson K, Helfand M). At We Level Up, various therapeutic techniques are utilized in their treatment approach. Individual counseling creates a nurturing environment where individuals can delve into the root causes of their addiction and address any emotional issues contributing to their struggles. Group therapy fosters a sense of camaraderie, allowing individuals to connect with others who have gone through similar experiences, enabling them to share insights and learn from one another’s journeys.

Physicians usually start patients off at lower doses and increase their doses, as necessary. However, tizanidine treatment starts at 2-4 mg taken three times a day while cyclobenzaprine treatment starts at 5-10mg taken three times per day. Tizanidine is a muscle relaxer that was approved by the FDA in 1996 and is used to treat stiff, rigid muscles. It is often sold under the brand name Zanaflex and is helpful for treating spinal injuries as well as neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Tizanidine is usually prescribed alongside physical therapy to help ease discomfort during treatment. Tizanidine is a short-acting muscle relaxer sold in the United States.

This can be caused by conditions such as cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and stroke. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three muscle relaxants—baclofen, tizanidine, and dantrolene—to treat muscle spasticity. Botulinum toxin is approved to treat a variety of medical conditions that affect how the body functions. Tizanidine may be preferred for muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injury. Cyclobenzaprine is used along with physical therapy and rest to relieve pain and muscle spasms. Zanaflex, or tizanidine, is a muscle relaxant used to treat muscle spasticity due to multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury.

What are the pros and cons of gene therapy?

Its combination with alcohol can lead to cardiac arrest, cardiac arrhythmias, hypotension, seizures, prolonged QT intervals, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome. A considerable risk in utilizing Flexeril is the development of serotonin syndrome when used in conjunction with any drug that inhibits the reuptake of serotonin, such as certain classes of antidepressants . This is a condition that can lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cognitive impairment, ataxia, hyperreflexia, clonus, and hyperthermia.

For example, they are used to treat muscle spasms caused by conditions such as acute low back pain, tension headaches, and fibromyalgia. Some of the muscle relaxants used to reduce muscle spasms include cyclobenzaprine, methocarbamol, carisoprodol, metaxalone, chlorzoxazone, and orphenadrine. In general, doctors prescribe a locally or centrally-acting muscle relaxant to treat muscle spasms only after other treatments have failed. Zanaflex has been approved to treat muscle spasticity linked to multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injuries. Flexeril, or cyclobenzaprine, is used to treat skeletal muscle pain and spasms. Your doctor can help you figure out which drug is best for your situation.

Concomitant use of common antibiotic and muscle relaxant may lead to serious fall in BP – Specialty Medical Dialogues

Concomitant use of common antibiotic and muscle relaxant may lead to serious fall in BP.

Posted: Sun, 07 Apr 2019 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Addiction Resource is an educational platform for sharing and disseminating information about addiction and substance abuse recovery centers. Addiction Resource is not a healthcare provider, nor does it claim to offer sound medical advice to anyone. Addiction Resource does not favor or support any specific recovery center, nor do we claim to ensure methocarbamol and flexeril together the quality, validity, or effectiveness of any particular treatment center. No one should assume the information provided on Addiction Resource as authoritative and should always defer to the advice and care provided by a medical doctor. Drugs like Zanaflex and Flexeril are often recommended along with physical therapy to relieve pain.

Study On The Effectiveness Of Zanaflex And Flexeril

Users are urged to follow all directions on their prescription label and know that their doctor could occasionally change their dose. Currently, the primary indication for dantrolene is the treatment of malignant hyperthermia, a life-threatening hypermetabolic state rarely triggered by agents such as succinylcholine and inhalational anesthetics. However, other indications include muscle spasticity often seen with upper motor neuron disorders, traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury (SCI), multiple sclerosis (MS), and CP.

• To my knowledge, there is no current evidence of its usefulness in centrally derived muscle spasticity.
• Whether you’ve experienced persistent muscle pain or occasional spasms due to a medical condition, your doctor may have prescribed a muscle relaxer, also called a muscle relaxant.
• When taken together with alcohol or alcoholic beverages, they may interact to cause severe CNS depression.
• This is a condition that can lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, cognitive impairment, ataxia, hyperreflexia, clonus, and hyperthermia.
• Conversely, Cyclobenzaprine primarily works as a central nervous system depressant, targeting the brain and spinal cord to alleviate muscle spasms.

Muscle relaxants should always be used at the recommended dosage and for the prescribed time frame. Some muscle relaxants have abuse potential, especially with prolonged use. Many have a sedative effect and cause drowsiness and dizziness, so you should not drive or operate machinery until you know how the medicine affects you. Skeletal muscle relaxants like cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), methocarbamol (Robaxin), and carisoprodol (Soma) work well to relieve back and neck pain. It’s believed to work by attaching to a receptor or protein in the brain called the alpha-2 receptor, which reduces the release of substance P in your brain and spinal cord. Substance P is a chemical that helps increase pain signals to and from the brain.

When you feel ready or just want someone to speak to about therapy alternatives to change your life call us. Even if we cannot assist you, we will lead you to wherever you can get support. The choice between Cyclobenzaprine and Tizanidine depends on individual patient factors, medical history, and the specific nature of the treated condition. Consulting with a healthcare professional is crucial to determine the most appropriate medication for each individual’s needs.