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Muscle relaxers prescriptions available online

Learn how muscle relaxers can help acute muscle pain due to muscle spasms with a consultation from one of our board-certified doctors online. Get a new prescription for muscle relaxers or refill an existing prescription today.*

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About muscle relaxers

Muscle relaxers are medications designed to reduce muscle pain and discomfort by decreasing the function of skeletal muscle. They’re often prescribed to help treat pain and discomfort caused by muscle spasms, but they’re used for other conditions as well. There are two types of prescription muscle relaxers.

What muscle relaxers treat

The most common condition treated with muscle relaxers is back pain and spinal cord injuries, in conjunction with rest and physical therapy. The drugs are designed to inhibit nerve signals in the brain and spinal cord to help break the pain and muscle spasms cycle.

The pain causes muscle spasms, which in turn aggravate pain. These medications sedate and depress the central nervous system (CNS), slowing down muscle contractions. In turn, patients experience pain relief.

Other conditions are also treated with muscle relaxers; learn more about them below.

Multiple sclerosis

For example, symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) may also require treatment with these medications. One type of muscle relaxant called an antispastic agent (Baclofen) is the first-line treatment for spasticity in patients with MS. This medication can effectively alleviate spasms and moderately improve performance.

Cerebral palsy

Some skeletal muscle relaxants can be a short-term treatment for patients with symptoms of cerebral palsy. They may relieve symptoms such as disruptive, uncomfortable, and painful muscle spasms. These muscle spasms interfere with swallowing and breathing.

Dystonia

When dystonia, a condition that causes repetitive, involuntary muscle spasms or contractions, doesn’t respond to other treatments, the doctor may prescribe muscle relaxers. These medications can increase levels of some neurotransmitters that help affected muscles relax.

Other uses

Sometimes doctors prescribe muscle relaxers to people with symptoms of various health problems, some of which are rare. These include complex regional pain syndrome, trigeminal neuralgia (facial nerve disorder), muscle pain, Wolfram syndrome, and other conditions.

The main purpose of muscle relaxers in these conditions is to reduce muscle spasms and muscle contractions, thereby reducing pain.

How muscle relaxers work

Muscle relaxers function through several mechanisms to provide their effects. Some medications act on the central nervous system by depressing it, whereas others work on muscle cells directly. Their primary function is to stop muscle spasms and alleviate pain caused by musculoskeletal conditions.

Tendons attach the skeleton muscles to the skeleton. These muscles regulate voluntary movement. Motor neurons release neurotransmitters that activate the muscles and enable muscle contraction.

Also, input from sensory or afferent nerves activates the motor or efferent nerves in the reflex contraction.

Some disorders can cause abnormal firing of neurons and thereby cause painful contractions and muscle spasms. That’s where muscle relaxants step in.

They inhibit afferent nerves from releasing excitatory neurotransmitters, produce a depression of CNS, increase levels of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) to inhibit neuronal activity, and interfere with calcium release within skeletal muscle cells and block their activity.

Additionally, muscle relaxers can inhibit the release of acetylcholine, the neurotransmitter released by motor neurons to achieve muscle contraction. Muscle relaxants block the activity of interneurons, which connect the afferent and efferent nerves and prevent nerve signal transmission.

Side effects of muscle relaxers

When taken as prescribed, muscle relaxers are generally well tolerated. However, they can still cause some side effects.

The more common side effects of muscle relaxers include:

Drowsiness

Dry mouth

Headache

Fatigue

Sleep problems

Nausea

Constipation

Urinating more than usual

In rare cases, muscle relaxers may cause serious side effects. These can include:

Severe drowsiness

Bloody or dark urine

Chest pain

Unusual excitement

Fainting

Itching/skin rash

Pounding heartbeat

Slurred speech

Swelling of the ankles

Clumsiness/unsteadiness

Ringing in the ears

Unexplained muscle stiffness

Fever

Seizure

Muscle relaxers risks

Muscle relaxers are generally safe, but there are some risks if you have other medical conditions or take certain medications.

Before you take a prescribed muscle relaxer, be sure to tell your doctor if you have any of the following conditions or issues:

History of urinary retention

Increased intraocular pressure

Angle-closure glaucoma

Kidney disease

Stroke

Blood clots

Epilepsy or other seizure disorder

Mental illness or psychosis

Nervous system disorder

Muscle relaxers drug interactions

When you begin a new medication, tell your doctor about any other medications, supplements, or herbs you take. Some medications that might interact with a muscle relaxer include:

Antidepressants

Opioid medications

Other muscle relaxants

Anti-hypertensive medications

Anticonvulsants (seizure medications)

Sleeping pills

Antibiotics

Muscle relaxers you can get online

The two types of muscle relaxer medications are called antispastics and antispasmodics.

Antispastic muscle relaxers

Antispastic muscle relaxers are most often used to treat conditions affecting the spinal cord and muscle cells. In other words, they treat muscle spasticity. These drugs can help with neurological conditions that cause muscle spasms. Good examples are multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy.

Examples of antispastic muscle relaxers include:

Lioresal (Baclofen)

Antispasmodic muscle relaxers

Antispasmodic muscle relaxers are often used to treat occasional muscle spasms.

Examples of antispasmodic muscle relaxers include:

Fexmid and Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) Robaxin (Methocarbamol)

Muscle relaxers FAQs

How should I take muscle relaxers?

Muscle relaxers are taken by mouth. The doctor usually starts with a low dosage and increases it gradually. This is done to allow the medicine the time to work and also to make sure your body adapts to it well.

Take skeletal muscle relaxants according to the instructions provided on the label. These medications are usually taken with or without food and for a specific period of time, e.g., three weeks. The doctor instructs a patient on how long to take muscle relaxants.

The exact process depends on the medications you’re taking. For example, doctors usually recommend taking Baclofen in a dosage of 5mg three times a day. They may gradually increase the dose, but the maximum dosage is 80mg a day.

The same starting dosage, 5mg a day, is usually recommended for people taking Fexmid. Some people may need higher dosages, such as 7.5mg to 10mg, three times a day. A maximum daily dose of Fexmid is 30mg a day.

Robaxin is taken in lower dosages. The doctor may first prescribe 500mg or 750mg tablets. Patients may be recommended to start with 1.5 g 3-4 times a day for 2-3 days then decrease the dose afterwards. Generally speaking, 4.5-6g a day of Robaxin is recommended during the first 48 to 72 hours of the treatment. For most severe cases a doctor may recommend 8g a day. For maintaining the effect, <4.5g a day is recommended.

Who shouldn’t take muscle relaxers?

Some muscle relaxers aren’t recommended for patients > 65 years old. There is a lack of evidence on the safety of muscle relaxants in women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, but you shouldn’t take these medications unless the doctor approves.

The presence of some health problems can affect the use of skeletal muscle relaxants. These include congestive heart failure, recent heart attack, heart block, arrhythmia, hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid), glaucoma, trouble urinating, and liver disease.

Inform the doctor about the abovementioned health conditions before receiving a prescription for a muscle relaxer. The doctor will prescribe the medication if they believe it’s safe.

People with a history of ovarian cysts, kidney disease, stroke, and seizure disorders shouldn’t use muscle relaxers unless the doctor advises otherwise.

How long does it take for muscle relaxers to work?

Some muscle relaxers start working within 30 to 60 minutes after taking them. The effects of these medications last between four and six hours.

What should I avoid with muscle relaxers?

When taking muscle relaxants, you should avoid consuming alcohol. Both alcohol and muscle relaxants depress the central nervous system. Combining them could intensify the side effects of muscle relaxants and cause potentially dangerous symptoms.

For the same reason, you should also avoid combining muscle relaxants and other medications with sedating effects.

Avoid driving and operating with heavy machinery when using muscle relaxers. These medications can cause blurry vision, drowsiness, and other symptoms that affect your reflexes and increase the risk of accidents.

What is the best medication to relax muscles?

There is no “one size fits all” rule here. People respond to medications differently. Cyclobenzaprine is the most extensively studied muscle relaxant and has been shown effective for various musculoskeletal problems.

What exactly do muscle relaxers do?

Muscle relaxers are formulated to prevent and reduce muscle spasms and spasticity (tightness). In other words, these medications relax the muscles, so they don’t longer contract. Some muscle relaxants act directly on the muscles, whereas others work on the central nervous system.

Can I get over-the-counter muscle relaxers?

You can’t get over-the-counter muscle relaxers in the United States. Some muscle relaxers, such as Robaxin, are available in OTC form in Canada and other parts of the world but not in the U.S. That being said, some over-the-counter products may have muscle-relaxing effects. Avoid using these products without consulting your doctor first.

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