Is Xanax A Muscle Relaxer? What You Should Know [EXPLANATION] 0

The two most significant types of muscle relaxers include neuromuscular blockers and spasmolytics.

While neuromuscular blockers are useful in surgical procedures, spasmolytics are commonly used to relieve pain associated with spasms and various other neurological conditions.

Neuromuscular blockers are also used to cause temporary paralysis in emergencies.

Despite the benefits, doctors do not always recommend muscle relaxers as the first treatment method for back pain because of their side effects.

They are used to cure more severe neurological conditions, in which an initial assessment is necessary to evaluate the need for the drug and the duration it is required.

They are not prescribed for prolonged use, and those who are using them should do so under a physician’s care.

Addiction

If you take the drug strictly according to the doctor’s prescription, it may produce some mild side effects while improving the pain, but it does not make you addicted.

For instance, people living with arthritis usually find lots of relief with muscle relaxers.

The addiction to muscle relaxers develops when the drugs are habitually taken to relieve pain.

Due to the drugs’ fast-acting nature, it is not uncommon for individuals to become dependent on them whenever they feel any degree of pain. The drug becomes the primary source of relaxation and relief from both mental and physical stresses.

Even more concerning is when muscle relaxers are used with other substances.

The combination of different drugs results in the exacerbation of the side effects associated with abuse. Individuals who are no longer using the drug can experience withdrawal symptoms after prolonged use.

Muscle relaxers can be very dangerous and highly addictive if not used as advised by the physician.

While the addiction and abuse of muscle relaxers are not as commonly seen as other controlled substances, the wide use of these drugs to relieve pain makes them more readily available in many households, making them easier to abuse.

For avoiding any addiction risk, you should try an OTC before making an appointment with your doctor for a prescription; read our OTC Muscle Relaxer Buying Guide.

Side Effects

Abusing muscle relaxers can result in severe adverse side effects that can alter normal functions.

Incidents of dizziness, sedation, and drowsiness are commonly reported, whereas in other cases, muscle relaxers’ high can lead to paralysis and heart failure.

Considering the side effects of using these drugs, individuals are recommended not to operate any machinery or drive after taking the drug. Furthermore, the drug should be taken before going to bed.

The results of muscle relaxer abuse on the nervous system make it attractive to individuals looking to get high.

Often, muscle relaxers are abused along with other substances to produce greater experiences of euphoria.

A few types of muscle relaxers, especially when taken in combination with other substances or excess, can cause irregular heartbeat, severe allergic reactions, and hallucinations.

Since these drugs are made to slow down the central nervous system (CNS), the dangers of abusing muscle relaxants can be life-threatening.

Warnings

Muscle relaxant drugs are also known to increase the effects of alcohol and other drugs that suppress the central nervous system.

Any individual who is consuming muscle relaxants is advised to avoid activities that might compromise their performance and safety.

The United States Food and Drug Administration does not recommend muscle relaxants for a longer time.

If you experience any unusual sickness or disease such as kidney disease, allergies, irregular heartbeat, hepatitis, overactive thyroid, glaucoma, or problem in urination, you should immediately consult your doctor.

Muscle relaxers refer to the class of drugs used to provide relief from muscle spasms.

Quite a few conditions are affecting the central nervous system that can result in muscle spasms.

Trauma or injury to the head or back can also lead to muscle spasms.

With the muscle relaxers’ help, one can ensure that the pain and discomfort caused by the spasm are reduced.

Muscle spasm refers to the involuntary contraction of muscles, which contract suddenly, giving rise to a wave of pain.

When the muscles contract tightly to the extent that they stiffen, spasticity is said to have occurred.

It then becomes quite hard to use these muscles.

Muscle relaxers can be used to prevent this condition.

Several muscle relaxers are available on the market.

Cyclobenzaprine, Baclofen, soma, dantrolene, and tizanidine are examples of muscle relaxers that are prescribed commonly.

The muscle relaxers available on the market come in the form of tablets, capsules, or liquids.

Some are also available as injectable preparations.

Some drugs are injected during surgery into the vein, which is also referred to as muscle relaxants.

They are used to relax the muscles during surgery.

How do muscle relaxers perform their function?

The muscle relaxers perform their function by causing a decrease in the tension of the muscles, thereby ensuring that they become less stiff.

This leads to a reduction in pain and discomfort.

Different drugs have different mechanisms of action to perform their function.

Baclofen, along with diazepam and methocarbamol, acts on the central nervous system and leads to muscle relaxation.

On the other hand, dantrolene acts directly on the muscles.

Cyclobenzaprine is used to treat muscle spasms caused by acute conditions and is not found to be effective beyond a period of 2 weeks.

Diazepam is not used for the long term since it tends to cause dependency.

When it comes to prescription muscle relaxers for long-term usage, it is dantrolene, which is preferred since it has a relatively better safety profile as compared to the other options.

Carisoprodol or soma performs its function by blocking the pain sensation between the brain and the nerves, thereby providing relief from the pain caused by muscle spasms.

When are prescription muscle relaxers given to patients?

Muscle relaxers are prescribed so that the patient can attain relief from the pain and discomfort caused by muscle spasms.

This can occur in different conditions, including multiple sclerosis, motor neuron disease, cerebral palsy, and long-term injuries to the head or back. Short-term injuries, such as whiplash, can also lead to muscle spasms.

Certain drugs are usually given in the hospital, an example being the cannabis extract, which is often prescribed to patients who have multiple sclerosis and fail to respond to other muscle relaxers.

The drug is administered in a four-week trial to gauge if any improvement occurs.

• Diazepam is used to provide relief from lower back pain or neck pain that can occur as a result of whiplash. Since the drug is addictive, it is only used for a week or two.
• Carisoprodol is given in cases of injuries or painful musculoskeletal conditions. The drug should be avoided in patients who have a history of drug abuse.
• Cyclobenzaprine is given to patients suffering from acute musculoskeletal conditions and required treatment for one or two weeks since the drug is found to be ineffective beyond this period.

Instructions associated with the drug

Most of the drugs are meant to be taken orally.

While prescribing muscle relaxers, doctors tend to start on a lower dosage and gradually increase over the weeks.

This is done to ensure that the body gets adequate time to adjust to the medications. Similarly, when the drugs are supposed to be stopped, they are not withdrawn suddenly and are instead tapered off.

The drugs meant to be given as injectable preparations are started off in the hospital.

Cannabis extract, which is available in the form of a spray for the mouth, is sprayed under the region of the tongue or on the inside of the cheek as prescribed by the doctor.

It is advisable to change the area where the spray is applied to ensure that irritation does not occur.

Potential side effects

A drug is yet to be formulated, which would not have any side effects.

Hence, muscle relaxers also carry a risk of certain side effects that the patient might have to experience due to the drug’s usage.

It needs to be kept in mind that the side effects can vary in patients, and over time might subside on their own.

Muscle weakness is a common side effect caused by most muscle relaxers.

Some other side effects that can be caused by different muscle relaxers are given below.

• Baclofen
• This drug can lead to a feeling of sickness, tiredness, vision problems, weakness, dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, and dry mouth in patients. The patient may also complain of breathing difficulties, insomnia, anxiety, increased micturition, and sweating. There have also been reports of skin rashes.
• Flexeril
• Patients taking this drug usually complain of drowsiness, dry mouth, and dizziness. Agitation is also often reported.
• Soma
• There have been reports of paralysis, lack of coordination, lightheadedness, fainting, tachycardia, and seizures using this drug. Some patients may also experience vision loss or agitation. Complaints of drowsiness, dizziness, tremor, blurred vision, depression, insomnia, and GI disturbances have also been registered.
• Dantrolene
• Dizziness, sleepiness, tiredness, diarrhea, and sickness are among the complaints made about dantrolene usage. Patients also complain of headaches, loss of appetite, rash, speech and vision problems, fever, chills, and seizures. There have also been reports of liver toxicity.
• Diazepam
• Sleepiness, weakness, and lightheadedness are the potential side effects that can be caused by this drug. Patients might also experience confusion or aggression owing to the usage of the drug.

Contraindications

There are certain conditions in which muscle relaxers should be avoided.

For instance, Baclofen should not be prescribed to patients suffering from a stomach ulcer, epilepsy, or diabetes. Furthermore, dantrolene should not be given to patients who suffer from any liver or heart conditions.

It should also be avoided in cases where breathing problems exist.

Diazepam should not be given to patients who have severe breathing difficulties.

It should also be avoided in patients with myasthenia gravis and lung problems.

Tizanidine is not prescribed to elderly patients or patients with liver problems, while methocarbamol is not given to patients suffering from myasthenia gravis or breathing problems.

The drug is also avoided in patients with epilepsy or brain damage. Cyclobenzaprine is avoided in elderly patients as it leads to confusion and delirium.

Important guidelines to pay heed to

Some guidelines should be adhered to when a patient is given muscle relaxers.

As we have discussed, nearly all muscle relaxers can lead to drowsiness, so it needs to be ensured that the patient does not drive or operate any machinery after taking the medication.

It is also advisable to refrain from drinking alcohol when you are on any muscle relaxer.

Furthermore, muscle relaxers should not be stopped suddenly or without the advice of the doctor.

The dosages need to be tapered off.

Diazepam carries a risk of dependency, and thus, withdrawal symptoms can occur if the drug is taken for more than two weeks and is then stopped suddenly.

Thus, the drug should be taken and stopped according to the instructions of the doctor.

How to get prescribed muscle relaxers?

Muscle relaxers cannot be bought without a prescription.

These drugs can only be purchased from a pharmacy when you present your prescription for them.

This is due to the side effects that they can cause.

It also exists an herbal form of muscle relaxant without prescription, but their effect will be much lower than the real prescribed medication.

These drugs are used for critical conditions, so consultation from a doctor must be acquired before you make use of them.

The drugs are available online in some places, but you will have to present a scanned copy of your prescription even if purchased online.

Furthermore, it is important to keep in mind that the drugs need to be authentic, so you need to ensure that they are purchased from a place that can be relied upon.

Caution advised

It is important to ensure that the patient is compliant and take the drugs as advised by the doctor.

Overdosing can prove detrimental to the health, and if the maximum benefit of the drug is to be attained, you need to ensure that you follow the doctor’s instructions.

The muscle relaxers also have some drug interactions, so if you are on any drug, the dose will have to be managed according to that.

It is important to ensure that the drugs do not put your health in jeopardy, and make this certain; you need to make it certain that you abide by the guidelines mentioned regarding these drugs’ usage.

Failure to do so can prove to be detrimental to your health.

Before you endeavor to use the drug, ensure that you acquire complete information about it from your doctor along with the potential side effects that you would need to be wary of.

This will ensure that you closely monitor your health and seek intervention in the case of any abnormality at the earliest.

Muscle relaxers are used to attain relief from muscle spasms that can occur due to different conditions.

Muscle spasms occur owing to the involuntary and uncontrolled contraction of muscles.

The muscles tend to contract suddenly, giving rise to pain.

Spasticity results when muscles contract tightly due to which they become stiff and harder to use.

Different muscle relaxers are currently in use to solve this problem.

• Baclofen
• dantrolene
• diazepam
• tizanidine
• methocarbamol

Cannabis extract comprising of dronabinol and cannabidiol are some examples of muscle relaxers prescribed in the current times.

Most of these options are:

Available in the form of tablets, capsules, and liquid form.

Baclofen can be taken:

As an intrathecal injection, while diazepam can be administered rectally in liquid form.

Apart from attaining relief from muscle spasms, these drugs are sometimes used for other conditions as well.

Diazepam is given to those suffering from anxiety or insomnia and can also be used to treat seizures.

How do they work?

Muscle relaxers perform their function by causing the muscles to become less stiff and tense, which leads to a reduction in pain and discomfort.

Different muscle relaxers have different ways to perform their function.

Baclofen, diazepam, methocarbamol, and tizanidine acte on the brain and the spinal cord.

Dantrolene has a direct effect on the muscles due to which it has relatively fewer side effects as compared to the other options and is the drug prescribed for chronic muscle spasms.

Cannabis extracts act on the brain, spinal cord, and muscle.

When are muscle relaxers prescribed?

There are quite a few conditions that lead to muscle spasms, for which muscle relaxers are prescribed to provide relief.

Multiple sclerosis, motor neuron disease, cerebral palsy, and injuries to the head and back are examples of conditions that benefit muscle relaxers.

Cannabis is usually prescribed to patients with multiple sclerosis who do not show improvement with other muscle relaxers.

Usually

It is given as a four-week trial to gauge the effects it causes.

Diazepam is often used to provide relief from lower back pain or neck pain.

The drug is addictive:

So it should only be used for a week or two.

Methocarbamol is used for treating muscle spasm in people suffering from lower back pain.

How to take the drugs?

The drugs are usually taken orally.

Normally

The doctor starts the patient on a low dose, which is increased gradually over a few weeks.

This is done to give the body some time to get used to the medications.

Cannabis extract:

Is available in the form of a spray for the mouth needs to be sprayed under the tongue or onto the inside of the cheek once or twice in a day, as prescribed by the doctor.

The patient is advised to change the mouth area where the spray is applied to minimize the risk of irritation in the mouth.

Potential side effects

All drugs have a certain list of side effects that one needs to be wary of, and muscle relaxers are no different.

They may cause:

• dizziness
• sleeping problems
• weakness
• tiredness

Among other effects like liver toxicity, heartburn, and breathing problems.

Therefore

It needs to be ensured that the patient is closely monitored when the drugs are started so that intervention can be done in the case of any abnormality.

It should also be made certain that the patients observe compliance.

Muscle relaxers are a group of drugs used to relieve muscle spasms resulting from different conditions affecting the nervous system.

Apart from diseases

long-term and short-term injuries to the head and neck can lead to muscle spasms.

In such cases

The muscle relaxers prove to be highly beneficial in relaxing the muscles, which lead to relief from the pain and discomfort.

A muscle spasm occurs when a group of muscle contracts involuntarily and in an uncontrolled manner.

The contraction occurs suddenly and gives rise to quite a bit of pain.

Spasticity results when the muscles tighten a great deal due to which they become rather stiff, making it quite hard to use them.

Doctors currently prescribe various muscle relaxers.

These include:

Baclofen, dantrolene, diazepam, tizanidine, methocarbamol, and cannabis extract containing dronabinol and cannabidiol.

Most of these medications are available as tablets, capsules, or liquids.

Baclofen is also available in an injectable form where the injection has to be inserted into the back.

Diazepam is available in liquid form meant to be administered rectally, while an injectable preparation is available.

Cannabis extract is only available as a spray for the mouth.

Multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and motor neuron disease are some examples of conditions related to the central nervous system that

lead to muscle spasms.

Potential side effects that one needs to be wary of

There are no drugs that carry no risk of side effects, so muscle relaxers also have a list of possible side effects that you need to be cautious about.

It is important to keep in mind:

Everyone does not experience these side effects, and most of the effects tend to improve as your body adjusts to the medication.

Different muscle relaxers have different side effects.

Let us take a look at some of them.

• Baclofen can lead to a feeling of sickness, tiredness, vision problems, weakness, and dizziness. Patients may also experience light-headedness, headache, and breathing problems. Some complaints about dry mouth, muscle ache, anxiety, confusion, and increased sweating.
• Cases of skin rash and sleeping disturbances have also been reported.
• Patients with dantrolene might experience dizziness, sleepiness, tiredness, sickness, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Some might also complain of headaches, loss of appetite, speech disturbances, fever with chills, and seizures. Inflammation of the lining around the heart can also result in some cases, and there have been reports of liver toxicity caused by the drug.
• Those taking diazepam may feel weak and lightheaded, and they may suffer from episodes of forgetfulness. The drug can also cause confusion, aggression, and instability.
• Patients taking tizanidine may experience drowsiness, dizziness, and fatigue. They may also complain of stomach upset, hallucinations, slower heart rate, and difficulty in sleeping.
• Methocarbamol may lead to forgetfulness, anxiety, blurred vision, confusion, headache, and heartburn. The drug can also trigger allergic reactions, and some patients might experience itching and rashes.
• Dizziness, depression, abdominal problems, mouth ulcers, and appetite changes have been reported using cannabis extract. There are also reports of hallucinations.

Contraindications to muscle relaxers

There are certain conditions where muscle relaxers cannot be prescribed.

Baclofen is contraindicated in patients suffering from:

Stomach ulcer, epilepsy, mental condition, and diabetes. Similarly, dantrolene cannot be given to those who have liver, heart, or breathing problems.

It is advisable to prescribe diazepam to those suffering from:

Conditions like myasthenia gravis and lung problems. Tizanidine should be avoided for older people or people with liver diseases.

Some factors to take into consideration

As has been noted, most people are prone to drowsiness.

Hence

One should avoid driving or operate any machinery if he experiences dizziness on taking the medication.

It is also advisable to refrain from consuming alcohol during this period.

• Certain drugs, such as baclofen, should not be stopped suddenly. The dose should be tapered off i.e., decreased slowly over weeks before it is stopped completely.
• Diazepam has the potential for addiction, and those who take the drug for more than two weeks can grow dependent. Therefore, they might experience withdrawal symptoms if the drug is stopped suddenly.

Caution is advised

It is essential to keep in mind that drugs can lead to serious side effects if taken in the wrong manner.

 Therefore

It needs to be ensured that the medication dosage and timing are followed strictly as advised by the doctor.

These drugs are available over the counter, but you will need to purchase upon prescription if you have a serious condition.

Therefore

You need to ensure that all the instructions are followed to the last letter to ensure that the drugs do not prove detrimental to health.

The drugs have the potential of being harmful and addictive, and it is up to you to ensure that the risk associated with them is minimized.

Snorting muscle relaxers or other prescription drugs is considered to be a form of prescription drug abuse.

In simpler words:

It’s the use of prescription drugs in a way that it’s not supposed to be used.

A significant percentage of the population uses prescription muscle relaxers without a proper prescription, and there’s a chance that most of these users snorted muscle relaxers at some point.

While opioid painkillers are the most common prescription drugs abused by young adults and teens, that doesn’t mean muscle relaxers aren’t being snorted and abused.

Illicit use of prescription muscle relaxers is higher among adolescents and young adults than other age groups.

Many people think that prescription drugs are safer to snort than street drugs, but that’s far from the truth.

These prescription muscle relaxers can cause serious side effects, especially when they are being snorted and abused.

Snorting muscle relaxers is incredibly dangerous to your health.

Prescription drug abuse isn’t a new trend, and it has been going on ever since Bayer created a drug called heroin.

Since then, people have been abusing drugs that are intended for medical purposes.

These days

Abuse of muscle relaxers and prescription drugs is bigger than ever.

ER visits due to prescription drug abuse have more than doubled over the last decade.

In fact

The rate of prescription drug abuse is much higher than illicit drug use.

However

Muscle relaxers aren’t the only drugs that are being abused.

People are also snorting OxyContin and several other painkillers.

There are many sorts of medications ripe for abuse, and muscle relaxers are just one of them.

Why It’s Dangerous

Snorting muscle relaxers may appeal to some people because of the intense and quick onset of the effects.

However

Suppose they continue to use muscle relaxers and painkillers non-medically more frequently. In that case, they’ll soon discover that the drugs don’t have the same intensity of effects, no matter how they are administered i.e. orally or nasally.

Snorting muscle relaxers produces a quicker and more extreme high.

Users who have built up a drug tolerance for muscle relaxers will not find the same stimulation level by simply ingesting the muscle relaxants orally.

This leads to them snorting crushed-up muscle-relaxing drugs to reach the same intoxication level.

Benzodiazepines, or known as benzos, are common muscle relaxing, anti-anxiety, anti-seizure drugs.

Over the years, the use, as well as the abuse of benzos, has gone up.

In 2012:

Physicians per 100 patients wrote 38 benzo prescriptions.

Snorting muscle relaxers is so dangerous because the wide abuse of this class of drugs can even lead to death. 

In fact

It has even surpassed heroin and cocaine in terms of the number of unintentional deaths.

Benzos are very effective as muscle relaxers because they work by activating a neurotransmitter that blocks the brain cell activity.

This leads to the sedative effect that causes the muscles to relax.

However

This is the same reason why people abuse this drug in the first place.

Benzos are muscle relaxers that have a tranquilizing effect, which can be addicting.

Prevention

In most cases, people build up drug tolerance for muscle relaxers and end up resorting to snorting these drugs to experience the same effect.

Hence

It’s important not to consume too many muscle relaxers regularly.

Since we know that most of the time

Prescription drug abusers can get their medication from friends and family, it’s important to take stock of your medicine cabinets regularly.

Muscle relaxers are a class of oral drugs that are usually prescribed to treat neck or back pain that arises from muscle spasms and cramps.

Muscle injuries caused by accident or prolonged stiffness are also usually treated with these drugs.

The safest and most preferred way of taking these muscle relaxers is to consume them with a glass of water.

However

Mixing muscle relaxers with alcoholic beverages isn’t safe at all, and various studies have revealed that alcohol and muscle relaxers don’t work well together.

Be it an alcoholic beverage or a relaxing muscle drug; both are nervous system suppressants.

It’s common knowledge that you need your nervous system to function properly to move your muscles.

After you consume alcohol or muscle relaxers, you’ll experience restricted muscle activity.

However

This limited motion is induced by the muscle relaxers to help treat your back pain or neck pain that results from strain or muscle spasms.

Mixing Alcohol and Muscle Relaxers

Alcoholic beverages such as beer and wine are very common and popular, and these alcoholic drinks can prove beneficial for your health when taken in moderation.

However, they can be deadly when taken with muscle relaxers.

Replacing water with an alcoholic beverage to swallow your muscle relaxing drugs may not seem like a huge deal, but it can be extremely dangerous.

It’s not safe at all to mix powdered muscle relaxants with your alcoholic drink.

Interaction of alcohol with muscle relaxation drugs can produce some severe side effects that can also be fatal.

Studies also suggest:

That the effectiveness of muscle relaxing drugs also reduces significantly when consumed along with alcohol.

Hence

Mixing muscle relaxers and alcohol defeats the purpose of consuming muscle-relaxing drugs in the first place.

Combining the two is dangerous because both alcohol and muscle relaxation drugs act as sedatives that can relieve muscle spasms, but together, they can cause drowsiness.

Depending on the amount of alcohol and muscle relaxers consumed simultaneously, the feeling of drowsiness can elevate to dangerous levels.

As mentioned before:

Muscle relaxers work by slowing down the muscle movement.

This effect is further amplified by the presence of alcoholic beverages, which can lead to some dangerous consequences as the muscles that control the essential functions of a body, such as a heartbeat and breathing, may also be affected.

This can lead to heart problems, difficulty in breathing, or both.

Prevention

Since these side effects are serious, it’s important to practice alcohol abstinence while taking muscle relaxing drugs.

A recent study has shown:

That while most people are aware of the fatal effects that mixing alcohol with muscle relaxers can have, they are simply ignorant about the hazards of taking the muscle relaxers a while after consuming alcohol.

Some people believe:

Taking drugs and alcohol together is harmful, but consuming alcohol after a dose of these drugs with a gap of 10 to 15 minutes is safe.

However, this is far from the truth since the negative effects will still register, even if you separate the drug and alcohol consumption by a gap of 15 minutes or more.

At least two hours of a gap should be exercised if you take medicine after consuming alcohol.

This prevents the interaction of muscle relaxing drugs with alcohol.

However

It’s advised to practice total abstinence from all sorts of alcoholic beverages during the period that you’re on oral muscle relaxants.