Everywhere you go there will always be something that will stress you out, sometimes trivial, and sometimes really serious. And during those instances, your muscles tend to knot up because of the stress, causing painful cramps and spasms. These stresses can also cause migraine headaches to occur. Other instances that muscle cramps and strains take place are when you exercise vigorously without stretching the muscles beforehand. But what can we do about it? You can avoid those instances and things that cause these muscle cramps to occur. Yet, what if you cannot just avoid those stresses? Then to relieve you of those muscle cramps, you can take pain relievers, or better yet, muscle relaxants.

There are various muscle relaxants available in the market today. A muscle relaxant is a medication that acts indirectly on the skeletal muscles by going through the central nervous system or the brain first. It can either cause paralysis of the muscle, often used during emergency surgical procedures by blocking the transmissions of signals from the brain to the muscle, or a reduction of spasticity of the muscles to give relief from pain and muscle spasms. They are called neuromuscular blocking drugs and spasmolytics respectively, with the latter more commonly prescribed and used. These medications are often targeted on a specific muscle area rather than a generalized pain in the body.

With a big number of spasmolytic drugs available in the market, it is quite hard to decide on which to choose which will be found effective for your specific condition. Here is an overview of these drugs that can help you make your decision although of course, it still will rely on your doctor’s prescription since these drugs cannot be dispensed without it.

Carisoprodol

The generic name for Soma, Carisoprodol is considered to be a muscle relaxant whose action is to block the electrical transmission and communication between nerves found in the brain, more specifically at its reticular formation, and spinal cord. With the prescription of carisoprodol, the doctor will also advise the patient to have adequate rest as well as physical therapy to relieve the pain caused by this muscle condition. When using carisoprodol, it is recommended to avoid the intake of alchol, benzodiazepines like Ativan, barbiturates, and other narcotics that slow down the processes in the brain. Ingestion of carisoprodol can cause dizziness, drowsiness, nervousness, irritability, tremors, depression and an inability to sleep. Carisoprodol should not be taken when pregnant except when really needed. It also passes through breast milk.

Cyclobenzaprine

Another muscle relaxant under the category of spasmolytics is cyclobenzaprine. It is used for pains and aches generating from the muscle itself, and not from the pathway of nerves innervating them. It does not affect the normal function of the muscle but works through an intricate mechanism in the body’s brainstem. Cyclobenzaprine can be availed with the brand name Flexeril, in tablet form of 10 mg each. It is also found to be related to a group of antidepressants called TCAs or tricyclic antidepressants. Therefore, the intake of Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors should be avoided at least a couple of weeks before or after taking this medication since it can cause serious side effects such as convulsions and high fever. It has also been seen to cause death when these two medications are mixed together. It has also been seen to interact with medications like alcohol and barbiturates. Cyclobenzaprine or Flexeril is usually prescribed only for a short period of time, such as 2-3 weeks. If this does not help alleviate the condition, then you may need to consult with your physician. Its side effects are those commonly seen with other muscle relaxants although if convulsions and hallucinations occur, with irregular fast heartbeats, and fainting, then immediate medical attention is needed.

Metaxalone

Another common spasmolytic muscle relaxant is metaxalone or more commonly known as Skelaxin. Since its approval in 1962, its mechanism of action is not yet fully understood although there are theories that have been made that show an effect on the brain and spinal cord which in turn affects the target muscle. Skelaxin is available in tablet form, given to those for short term relief of muscle spasms. Relief is usually seen after an hour following ingestion. There are no known drug interactions that have been seen with metaxalone although it should not be taken with alcohol and other sedatives. It may be taken with or without food, depending on the reaction of the stomach to the medication. Metaxalone is intended for short term use only, therefore should not exceed the prescribed period. Some common side effects of Skelaxin include headache, nausea, constipation, blurred vision, dizziness, and drowsiness.

Other medications

There are still other muscle relaxants such as the neuromuscular blocking drugs that are frequently used by doctors as an anesthetic during surgical procedures. These include succinlycholine chloride, with brand name Anectine and Sucostrin that act through imitating another substance called acetylcholine which is responsible in stimulating muscle contraction. When succinylcholine replaces acetylcholine, it inhibits, rather than stimulates muscle contraction, therefore allowing the muscle to relax. Another is atracurium, or more commonly called Tracrium, and pancuronium, also known as Pavulon, that work the same way on its target.

Other spasmolytics may include benzodiazepines, such as diazepam (Valium) which is directed at the GABA receptors found in the central nervous system and causes relief from muscle spasm although it may also cause a sedative effect on the patient. If sedation is a problem, Baclofen can also be used which causes the same effect as diazepam, minus the sedation. Imidazoline compounds including clonidine and tizanidine can also help reduce the spasms, concentrating on the depression of the excitatory feedback of the muscles which normally help produce muscle tone. There is also dantrolene which works outside the brain and directly on the contraction mechanism of the muscles through interfering in calcium release which is needed for contraction.

There a lot of various muscle relaxants in the market, all of them promising to give relief from your muscle aches. If ever you decide to take one, first consult your doctor to get the best for your condition, and hopefully, all your muscles will feel relaxed and free from pain.