muscle relaxers - rx

[GardeniaGirl]

What are the options for muscle relaxers?

I have a script for one but the label came off and I can't remember what it is - methocarbamol I think is the generic name.

It works fairly well, but is mild, and I am definitely open to other choices. Soma and flexeril are two other ones I have read about.

Valium is out for me - it builds up in my system if i take it too many days in a row. I use xanax now because its short-acting (I take it for anxiety and irritability not for muscle relaxation).

Any info appreciated - I know I can google this but would rather hear some experiences from people who use them.

[Mark N]

GG, you already know about mine, Soma, but I think it is a good idea to find out real experiences rather than google for just the facts. I hope you find one that works and does the job for you.

[GardeniaGirl]

Mark, what dose of soma are you on?

I have read that soma makes you very sleepy -- has that been your experience?

[Mark N]

I am on 350mg QID, my experience is a bit uneven. When it works the best I am not aware that I have taken it but I feel much better. Most of the time I take it I can feel the relaxation and I get a bit sleepy. On a few rare times I knocks me out almost without warning. Overall it has been a good med for me to use.

[ErinENj]

I take Flexeril (available in generic cyclobenzaprine) and it works pretty well. I've been on it for a few months, and it has lost some of its effectiveness, but it still works better than nothing at all.

The last time I 'threw out my back' (not the last time I thought I did, the time before. The last time I thought I did turned out to be my herniations at L4/5 and L5/S1 just getting substantially worse) my pcp prescribed Skelaxin. It worked wonders. From what I remember, it was a pretty substantial dose, but loosened up my muscles and got me moving again within a week of just that and bed rest. I liked it. I can't remember any negative side effects.

The one big thing I do with my flexeril is that I never take it on an empty stomach. I've found that if I take them and/or my dilaudid, they are broken down too fast and tend to flood my system with one really short burst of medication and then leave me high and dry for the other 3.5 hours the dose is supposed to last me. I try to eat with all my meds, but can't with my Opana. For some reason, my stomach tends to get very upset when some meds are taken without food. I had some issues with acid reflux, heart burn, and a possible ulcer when I was 19ish, so since then, I'm always careful to make sure if something bothers my lovely tummy, I do everything I can to try not to do any damage.

I hope that you find something that will work for you without causing any other negative effects. Muscle relaxers can really work wonders in my opinion, so I hope that you find something soon!

[Kira]

I have taken flexeril (cyclobenzaprine), robaxin (methacarbamol), and skelaxin (can't remember generic name). None of them worked very well for me, but it might be because I don't have "normal" muscle spasms. I think my muscles are tight from actual scarring after all of the rhabdomyolysis attacks... that's what my PT and my pain doc (she's PM&R) think. My neuromuscular guy thinks it is cramping sensations from the metabolic dysfunction itself, but thinks it's possible there's scar tissue in there, too. I don't know. I just know that my muscles feel tight & crampy for weird reasons related to my weird disease, so all of the "normal" stuff doesn't work right for me. Heat helps me, so I am always laying on a heating pad.

For what it's worth, I haven't had any bad side effects from the flexeril, robaxin, OR skelaxin. Just didn't really have any good effects, either. I have most of a bottle of flexeril left that I filled back in March. If it would have worked, you can bet that stuff would be long gone and I would have used up all of my refills. :rolleyes:

[Kira]

Oh, I wanted to add that the other reason I get tight and crampy is actual spasticity from my disease affecting my CNS. This is mostly in my legs & feet, while the scarrring from rhabdo attacks is mostly in my upper body. The spasticity I have is still rather mild and so I don't do much for it. I think that muscle relaxers don't work that well for CNS-induced spasticity, though... things like baclofen or valium are supposed to work better for that. I have had the baclofen conversation with my doctors but don't want to try it yet because I don't think my spasticity is bad enough yet to justify adding another drug.

[GardeniaGirl]

thanks folks for the feedback! i need something on the days i get migraines - the back and shoulder muscles get super sore and tight and it lasts all day.

[OriAl]

There's Zanaflex or Baclofen.

[BrokenBladder]

GG, I've tried Baclofen, Flexeril, and I'm currently taking Soma. My doseage is the same as Marks. My personal favorite is Soma, but everyone is different. I do hope you find something soon that works for you.