Muscle Relaxers: Best Over-the-Counter and Rx Options

Dr. de Falla spent several years developing drugs at Abbott Laboratories, a pharmaceutical company where she holds a patent for a drug formulation. Take your time talking with your doctor about your options and listening to their medical advice. Make sure you feel comfortable with your doctor’s approach and treatment plan.

• These active ingredients typically make up joint supplements although, these are also widely used in creams, sprays, and gels for localized relief of aching joints.
• Tense, aching muscles can be frustrating, distracting, and throw a wrench into your schedule.
• Note that only a doctor should decide on the off-label OTC alternatives to relaxants drugs.
• When muscle pain hits, it can have you looking for fast-acting relief so you can get on with life.
• Back pain can greatly affect mobility, making it difficult to get around.

[1] While Tylenol and generic acetaminophen do not require a prescription, Tylenol 3 does. This is because Tylenol 3 is a more robust version of regular Tylenol. Tylenol 3 contains acetaminophen and a high amount of codeine, flexeril diarrhea an opioid. Muscle relaxant over the counter pills should be used carefully, as they can have serious side effects. Seek immediate medical attention if you or a loved one are experiencing symptoms of an overdose.

Over-the-counter options for muscle spasms

While taking a muscle relaxant, avoid activities that require mental alertness or coordination, such as driving or using heavy machinery. Muscle relaxants such as carisoprodol and diazepam can be habit-forming. Be sure to take your medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The information provided on Ask PharmacyChecker is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, nor is it an endorsement of any product or service. Acute musculoskeletal pain occurs in a specific area of the body, in the muscles, joints, bones, and ligaments.

The Problem with Muscle Relaxants – MedShadow Foundation

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No matter what kind of muscle relaxer you take, it is common to have side effects. Some muscle relaxants, however, can have potentially serious side effects, like liver damage. Your doctor will work with you to find the medication that makes the most sense for your situation. Muscle relaxants are ideally prescribed for acute rather than chronic pain.

Addiction Resource does not favor or support any specific recovery center, nor do we claim to ensure 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. The most popular prescription muscle relaxers include Flexeril, Skelaxin, Robaxin, Zanaflex, and Baclofen.

Ibuprofen (Advil) Over the Counter Muscle Relaxer

It’s usually caused by damage to nerve pathways within your brain or spinal cord that control movement and stretch reflexes. Have you ever tweaked your back, experienced a leg cramp, or woken up with a neck so stiff you can barely turn your head? If so, you’ve probably experienced a muscle spasm or muscle tension. Muscle spasms or tension can occur due to dehydration, overuse, or strain, and they can seriously impact daily activities like sleeping, driving, or lifting objects.

Consult a doctor or pharmacist first and follow the instructions closely. These muscle relaxers alter the conduction in the central nervous system to decrease muscle spasms. Severe, long-term spasticity can lead to muscle contracture, which can decrease your range of motion or leave the affected joints permanently bent. And muscle spasms can not only be uncomfortable, they can also be a sign of an underlying medical problem. This will depend on your individual needs, as some types can form a dependence. Always discuss the benefits and risks of a muscle relaxer with your prescribing doctor and be sure to follow any instructions with care.

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Prescription muscle relaxers can be effective in treating spasticity, muscle spasms and muscle-related pain. But it’s important to weigh the possible risks of these medications, including their side effects and addiction potential. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about all the options available to treat your symptoms. If you have neck or back pain, or you’re dealing with some other condition that causes muscle spasms, your doctor might prescribe a muscle relaxer (or muscle relaxant) for you. Muscle relaxers are medications that help to reduce muscle spasms and tension.

What are muscle relaxers?

Nitrosamine, a known carcinogen with the potential to cause cancer, was found to exist in the drug at levels greater than the acceptable daily intake (ADI) as determined by the FDA. This recall is specific only to a handful of lot numbers and does not affect all orphenadrine tablets made by Sandoz. If you take orphenadrine citrate 100mg ER tablets, talk with your pharmacist or doctor and they will help you determine if your medication has been impacted by the recall. You should only use these muscle relaxants for up to 2 or 3 weeks.

Keep in mind that muscle relaxers are intended for short-term use only and should not be taken for longer than two weeks without consulting your physician first. Muscle relaxers are used in addition to rest, physical therapy, and other measures to relieve discomfort. They are typically prescribed for short-term use to treat acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions. Muscle relaxers are occasionally prescribed for chronic pain (pain lasting longer than 3 months).