Your doctor might first suggest you try an over-the-counter medicine like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) to treat your pain. But if those don’t work, or you can’t take them because you have another issue like liver problems or ulcers, you may need to try a muscle relaxant.
Muscle relaxants are ideally prescribed for acute rather than chronic pain. They may be an option if pain is preventing you from getting enough sleep. Because muscle relaxants cause drowsiness, they can help you get rest when you take them at night.
Baclofen
Baclofen relieves muscle spasms associated with multiple sclerosis and spinal cord injury or disease, but its use is limited by its ability to cause sedation and increase seizure risk.
Prescribed for Chronic Spasticity, Cerebral Spasticity, Spasticity, Spinal Spasticity.
May also be prescribed off label for Alcohol Withdrawal, Cervical Dystonia, Cluster-Tic Syndrome, Dystonia, Hiccups, Huntington’s Disease, Migraine Prevention, Muscle Spasm, Muscle Twitching, Neuralgia, Periodic Limb Movement Disorder, Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, Trigeminal Neuralgia.
Baclofen has an average rating of 6.9 out of 10 from a total of 409 ratings on Drugs.com. 61% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 24% reported a negative effect.
Cyclobenzaprine
Cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxant that may be used short-term to treat muscle spasms caused by musculoskeletal conditions, in addition to rest and physical therapy. Sedation is a common side effect.
Prescribed for Sciatica, Muscle Spasm.
May also be prescribed off label for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Myofascial Pain, Temporomandibular Joint Disorder, Migraine.
Cyclobenzaprine has an average rating of 6.0 out of 10 from a total of 593 ratings on Drugs.com. 47% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 31% reported a negative effect.
Tizanidine
Tizanidine relieves muscle spasms but may cause sleepiness, a drop in blood pressure, and sedation. The dosage should be individualized and because it only lasts for a short time in the body, can be taken on an as needed basis. Monitoring of liver enzymes is required.
Prescribed for Muscle Spasm.
May also be prescribed off label for Cluster Headaches.
Tizanidine has an average rating of 6.2 out of 10 from a total of 357 ratings on Drugs.com. 48% of reviewers reported a positive effect, while 29% reported a negative effect.