Muscle Relaxants or muscle relaxers are drugs that relax certain muscles in
the body. We cannot say that muscle relaxants belong to a single class of
drugs, but rather they refer to a group of various drugs and each drug has
its own significant effect on the body. They are available in tablet forms
and also in injection form. Muscle relaxers are prescription drugs. Muscle
relaxants over the counter are also available.
Uses of Muscle Relaxant Drugs
The muscle relaxant drugs are taken
to take care of various pain problems:
- Acute muscle spasms associated with sprains, stroke
- Strains
- Pain due to physical therapy
- Spinal cord injury
- Other musculoskeletal conditions
- Fibromyalgia
- Low-back or neck pain
- Myofascial pain syndromes
- Leg cramps
- Tension headaches
How do Muscle Relaxant Drugs Work?
Muscle relaxers do not act
directly on the muscles. They act centrally in the brain. They are used as
total body relaxants. They are divided into two groups: centrally acting and
peripherally acting. The first group comprising 10 muscle relaxant drugs,
which are chemically different, and they work by acting on the central
nervous system and the other which act periperally comprises just one
medicine, that is only dantrolene. This drug has a direct action at the
level of the nerve-muscle connection.
Popular Muscle Relaxers
- Chlorphenesin (Maolate)
- Carisoprodol (Soma)
- Chlorzoxazone (Paraflex)
- Diazepam (Valium)
- Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)
- Metaxalone (Skelaxin)
- Methocarbamol (Robaxin)
- Orphenadrine (Norflex)
Muscle Relaxants Drugs Over The Counter
Though muscle relaxers are
prescription drugs,
they are also available over the counter, that is without any prescription.
However, muscle relaxers whether taken through prescription or over the
counter are intended to be used on a short-term basis only. These muscle
relaxers can be taken to treat any kind of muscle disorder, like, pain or
swelling in muscles, muscle cramps, etc. However if there is severe pain or
discomfort increases, it is necessary to consult a doctor for necessary
medications. Some of the popular OTC muscle relaxant drugs are:
- Tramaden
- Lioresal
- Robaxin (Methocarbamol)
- Zanaflex (Tizanidine-Oral)
- Skelaxin (Metaxalone)
- Tegretol (Carbamazepine)
- Baclofen
- Toradol (Ketorolac)
- Celebrex (Celecoxib)
- Imitrex
- Methotrexate
- Pain relief patch
- Medrol etc.
Side Effects of Muscle Relaxant Drugs
It is to be noted that the
muscle relaxant drugs help in reducing pain but they are not helpful in
treating the problem and they are not effective for all kinds of pain. There
are also a number of side effects associated with this medicine. The common
side effects are dizziness, drowsiness, blurred vision, confusion,
clumsiness or steadiness. In such cases the patient should avoid activities,
like, driving, operating machines, etc. that require alertness. Some other
mild side effects of skeletal muscle relaxants are dry mouth, cramps,
nausea, constipation and diarrhea, hiccups, trembling, muscle fatigue,
weakness etc.
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