Choosing a Skeletal Muscle Relaxant

Traditional treatment with botulinum toxin injections comes at the cost of repeated needle sticks and provides only temporary relief. Adverse effects that were less common, found in 1–3% of patients, were abdominal pain, reflux, diarrhea, constipation, upper respiratory infection, dizziness, irritability, pharyngitis, nausea, nervousness. Of note, any medication with a side effect profile of drowsiness should be used with caution in the elderly, as this can lead to increased numbers of falls as well as impaired cognition. The FDA recommends to start elderly patients on the 5mg dose and slowly titrate to a therapeutic dose from there. Both medications are commonly known to alleviate muscle spasms and pain.

Although these medications are similar in numerous ways, they have some unique differences in their mechanism of action, side effects, and uses. This article outlines the similarities and differences between Tizanidine vs. Flexeril and discusses possible alternatives among muscle relaxants and other drug classes. Zanaflex may be harmful to the unborn baby according to animal studies. There have been no adequate animal or human studies that show Flexeril is harmful while pregnant. Muscle relaxers should only be used if there are clear benefits that outweigh potential risks.

• These drugs aren’t approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating fibromyalgia, but both are commonly prescribed as an off-label medication.
• Other treatments may be available, like nerve blocks or radiofrequency ablation, that may not only be safer over the long term but provide more effective, sustained relief.
• Generic forms may be sold under Amrix, an extended-release capsule, and Fexmid, an immediate-release capsule.
• Don’t drink alcohol while using either tizanidine or cyclobenzaprine.
• If you experience neck or back strains, you may be recommended a muscle relaxant like Zanaflex or Flexeril.
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Yes, prescription muscle relaxers can make you sleepy due to how they affect your central nervous system. Because of this, you should be cautious about operating heavy machinery, such as driving a car, or making important decisions while taking these medications. To achieve a sufficient reduction in muscle tone, the amount can be steadily increased by 2 mg to 4 mg at each dosage, with 1 to 4 days between dosage increases. A large randomized-controlled trial showing efficacy of diazepam in reducing hypertonia, increasing range of motion, passive and spontaneous movement in children with CP with relatively low incidence of adverse events. Cyclobenzaprine likely treats fibromyalgia by increasing the effects of norepinephrine, a substance in your brain and spinal cord that helps reduce pain signals.

Popular Cyclobenzaprine Versus Tizanidine FAQs

Antispastics directly affect the spinal cord or the skeletal muscles with the aim of improving muscle tightness and spasms. It’s crucial that you always inform your healthcare provider about all medications you are taking. Both Zanaflex and Flexeril have potential drug-drug interactions that could result in serious complications. A thorough understanding of your medication history allows for safer prescription practices.

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The effectiveness of these medications hasn’t been compared in clinical studies, so we don’t know if one is more effective than the other. Flexeril, a generic name for Cyclobenzaprine, is an effective alternative to Tizanidine. It is commonly used to treat severe pain caused by acute musculoskeletal conditions because its long-term efficacy is unclear. Based on studies by IQVIA, a total of 28.4 million cyclobenzaprine prescriptions were dispensed in the US in 2017. Tizanidine (Zanaflex) and Flexeril (Cyclobenzaprine) are both muscle relaxants. They are used by medical personnel to treat muscle tightness arising from painful musculoskeletal conditions and injuries.

How do you take muscle relaxers?

Both Zanaflex and Flexeril are drugs used for muscle spasms and pain relief from musculoskeletal conditions. Zanaflex is commonly prescribed to treat spasticity from multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and spinal cord injury. Flexeril is often prescribed to relieve muscle pain and spasms caused by back and neck strains. The FDA reports that in 8 double-blind randomized controlled trials, they have found statistically significant indications for use of Flexeril in acute musculoskeletal injury.

Always consult with a healthcare provider when choosing between different types of medication. Tizanidine inhibits central and spinal release of norepinephrine and substance P. It dampens the excitation of motor neurons, thus reducing spasticity.

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If you experience neck or back strains, you may be recommended a muscle relaxant like Zanaflex or Flexeril. These drugs can also help relieve muscle spasms and stiffness related to other physical conditions and injuries. There are two broad categories of muscle relaxers (benzodiazepines and skeletal muscle relaxants), each of which acts on the nervous system in different ways. The drugs are usually not prescribed as the primary treatment of musculoskeletal pain but are rather reserved for when conservative treatments fail to provide relief. Muscle relaxers, also known as muscle relaxants, are a group of drugs with sedative properties. While people tend to think of sedatives as “sleeping pills,” the types used as muscle relaxers prevent nerve signals or pain impulses from reaching the brain.

These medications can slow down the breakdown of tizanidine and lead to increased sedation, drowsiness and slowed reflexes. Both Zanaflex and Flexeril can interact with drugs that have CNS flexeril.live depressant effects. These types of drugs include barbiturates, opioids, and benzodiazepines. Zanaflex and Flexeril can enhance their effects and lead to increased dizziness and sedation.

But providers usually only prescribe them for brief periods due to the addiction potential of certain types. World-class, Accredited, 5-Star Reviewed, Effective Addiction & Mental Health Programs. Complete Behavioral Health Inpatient Rehab, Detox plus Co-occuring Disorders Therapy. Calls to our general hotline may be answered by private treatment providers. We may be paid a fee for marketing or advertising by organizations that can assist with treating people with substance use disorders.