Muscle Relaxants Side Effects

Muscle relaxants are considered as the most common and effective quick-fix solution for treating strains, sprains, muscle spasms and other muscle injuries which can result in pain, stiffness,or any kind of discomfort. Also known as skeletal muscle relaxants, they work on the central nervous system and are available only under a physician's supervision. They don't heal the injuries but only help in relaxing the injured muscles and relieving the muscle pain. Carisoprodol (Soma), chlorzoxazone (Parafon Forte DSC), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), metaxalone (Skelaxin) and methocarbamol (Robaxin) are some common examples of muscle relaxants. Most of these drugs are available in both tablet and injection forms and though useful, are not without their side effects. These medications are usually prescribed by the doctors early in the patient's treatment regime and are intended to be used on a short-term basis only. Long term use of these muscle relaxants can lead to health abuse and dependency, and so is discouraged by many doctors.

Conditions Treated by Muscle Relaxants
Some common health problems treated by muscle relaxants are:

• Fibromyalgia
• Mechanical low-back or neck pain
• Myofascial pain syndromes
• Nocturnal leg cramps
• Tension headaches

Neurological conditions related to spasticity which can be treated with skeletal muscle relaxants are:

• Cerebral palsy
• Multiple sclerosis
• Muscle spasms following strokes
• Spinal cord injuries
• Traumatic brain injury

Conditions of Concern with Muscle Relaxants
Before using any muscle relaxant, it is necessary to consider the risks of taking it versus the benefits to the body. Therefore, patients should tell their physician if they have any history of allergies, especially due to any muscle relaxant or other substances, like, foods, preservatives or dyes. Other conditions, like, blood disease due to allergies, epilepsy, diabetes, drug dependency, kidney disease, liver disease, etc. should also be disclosed to the physician. Patients with certain medical conditions or taking some medications may experience some complications due to these muscle relaxants. Therefore, in such cases, one should consult the doctor so that the doctor can change the dose of the medication or advise some necessary precaution measures. If you have a habit of consuming alcohol or any central nervous system depressants, make sure your doctor is aware about it, as there can be chances that the side effects may increase due to these factors.

Side Effects of Muscle Relaxants
Though these relaxants do lessen the muscle pain, they are not effective for all kinds of pain and can cause a number of skeletal side effects in people ingesting them. Since these relaxants work on the central nervous system, they may add to the effects of alcohol and other drugs that decelerate the central nervous system functionality. The person may experience drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, blurred vision, clumsiness or steadiness and so should avoid activities, like, driving, operating machines, etc. that require alertness. The relaxant quinine sulfate and chlorzoxazone (Parafon Forte DSC) have been associated with rare but potentially severe heart problems and liver problems in some people respectively. Methocarbamol and chlozoxazone, common ingredients of many skeletal muscle relaxants, may cause harmless color changes in person's urine. However, the urine color will return to normal once the medication is stopped. Here are some more common but mild side effects of skeletal muscle relaxants:

• Dry mouth
• Stomach cramps
• Nausea and vomiting
• Constipation and diarrhea
• Hiccups
• Sleep disorders
• Trembling and weakness
• Muscle fatigue and fainting

Muscle relaxants are normally recommended along with rest, exercise, healthy diet, physical therapy or other treatments. Due to the above mentioned side effects, one should not develop a strong dependency on them and should always take these relaxants according to the dosage prescribed by a doctor or physician.