Over-the-Counter Muscle Relaxers

Muscle relaxers, also called skeletal muscle relaxants are drugs that alleviate pain, stiffness, swelling, or any kind of discomfort due to strain, sprains, muscle spasms, and other muscle injuries. They don't heal injuries or defects but help in relaxing the muscles and relieving pain. Though over-the-counter muscle relaxers are as effective as prescribed drugs for muscle relief, there are two major problems that many pharmaceutical companies have to face with the production and sale of this form of medication. Firstly, people usually have the misconception that you cannot buy over-the-counter muscle relaxants as it is impossible to get these relaxers without having a doctor's prescription in hand. Secondly, even if they are aware of the fact that these relaxers can be purchased without any prescription, there is a predominant belief that over-the-counter muscle relaxers are ineffective in comparison to prescribed medication. However, prescribed medication is more potent and has a higher concentration of the core components and therefore, needs to be taken only when muscle relaxers over-the-counter can't cure the problem and powerful medication is required.

Muscle Relaxers Available Over-the-Counter

Over-the-counter muscle relaxer medication is not really a drug class or a type. In fact, these medicines are a group of different drugs that are available in the market. The way in which these medicines work is such that they affect the brain and not the muscles directly thus relaxing one's entire body. Over-the-counter muscle relaxants are often taken for back pain. A commonly asked question is what is a good over-the-counter medication to take for muscle pain? Given below are the most common muscle relaxants that are available over-the-counter.

Tramaden: It is a clinically proven long-lasting pain relief pill which provides quick relief to aching, painful joints and muscles. It restores joint flexibility, reduces inflammation, and promotes normal cell growth. It can be taken as a dietary supplement, one capsule before each meal but ensure that you don't exceed the intake by more than three capsules per day.

Lioresal: It's a muscle relaxant used for curing muscle spasms due to multiple sclerosis or other diseases. It reduces the frequency and severity of muscle spasms. Remember that the medicines should not be crushed or chewed before swallowing.

Robaxin (Methocarbamol): It's a skeletal muscle relaxant used for relieving pain or discomfort due to strains and sprains. Though it causes no direct effect on the muscle, it's prolonged intake is not recommended. It is necessary that the pill be taken with a full glass of water.

Zanaflex (Tizanidine-Oral): It's a muscle relaxant that relieves spasms and increased muscle tone due to multiple sclerosis or spinal injury. Zanaflex causes no direct effect on skeletal muscle fibers or the neuromuscular junction and monosynaptic spinal reflexes. It can be taken orally, 2 - 3 times a day.

Skelaxin (Metaxalone): It's a muscle relaxant used to treat skeletal muscle conditions or disorders, like, pain or injury. It can be taken orally with or without food, however, if taken with food it increases the chances of drowsiness or dizziness.

Tegretol (Carbamazepine): It is primarily used for controlling certain types of epilepsy. It is also used to relieve severe pain of the jaw or cheek caused by a facial nerve problem (trigeminal neuralgia). Tegretol can be taken orally on daily basis. If suddenly stopped, it may increase the risk of side effects, like, occurrence of seizures.

Baclofen: It's a muscle relaxant used to minimize the frequency and severity of muscle spasms due to neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis. Baclofen can be taken orally, with or without food, on a daily basis.

Toradol (Ketorolac): It's a Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug (NSAID) that is used for short-term (up to 5 days) treatment of moderate to severe muscle pain (usually after a surgery), alone or in combination with other medicines. It also reduces inflammation by keeping certain chemicals (prostaglandins) from being produced by the injured tissue.

Celebrex (Celecoxib): It is used for alleviating pain, fever, swelling, and tenderness due to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. Celebrex does not prevent the progression of either type of arthritis, however, it reduces the signs of arthritis. It also provides relief from acute pain as well as pain of menstrual cramps (primary dysmenorrhea).

Imitrex, methotrexate, medrol, pain relief patch, etc. are some other examples of muscle relaxers which are available over-the-counter. These relaxers can be taken to treat any kind of muscle pain, swelling in muscles, muscle cramps, etc. However if the severity of the discomfort increases, it is recommended that you consult a doctor for necessary treatment and medication.