Are Muscle Relaxers Addictive?
Muscle relaxers or muscle relaxants are a type of prescription drug for people with excessive chronic pain. They’ve likely explored other options, and use relaxers as the final resort.
However, some of the side effects of these prescriptions mean they have the potential to be addictive. If you or a loved one are prescribed muscle relaxers, it’s important to understand the risks and use them only according to the doctor's orders.
What Are Muscle Relaxers?
Muscle relaxers are prescription drugs that lower muscle function and tension. They’re used to soothe symptoms of physical pain rather than treating the underlying issue.
When people think of muscle relaxers they often think about skeletal muscle relaxers. These are used to soothe tight muscles caused by conditions like cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, strokes, and injuries.
Smooth muscle relaxants are used to help small body functions. These are areas like the intestines, blood vessel constriction, and dilation.
Types of Muscle Relaxers
There are two types of muscle relaxers:
- Antispastic
- Antispasmodic
Antispastic relaxers are typically prescribed when someone is experiencing disruptive movement of muscles. Sometimes parts of a muscle will tense up when the person wants to use the whole muscle, or vice versa.
Antispastic relaxers help improve the muscle functions of people with cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, and strokes. It can be very important for their chronic pain management as well as their rehabilitation.
Antispasmodic relaxers are known as the last line of treatment for major injuries or failed treatments. They’re used for muscle spasms as well as muscle and fascia pain caused by major muscle injuries.
Common Muscle Relaxers
The most common antispastic relaxers are:
- Baclofen
- Dantrolene
The most common antispasmodic medications are:
- Carisoprodol
- Chlorzoxazone
- Cyclobenzaprine
Your medical professional may want to prescribe Valium in some cases as a muscle relaxer, although it is less common.
How Do Muscle Relaxers Work?
Muscle relaxers depress the central nervous system, slowing messages between nerve receptors. They essentially stop nerves from sending signals to your brain.
Antispastic and antispasmodic relaxers act differently from each other.
- Antispastic relaxers act on the spinal cord or directly on the muscle
- Antispasmodic relaxers act on the brain and spinal cord
They stop pain, but the effects of muscle relaxers include the common side effects of depressants. This includes:
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Confusion
Muscle Relaxers Can Be Addictive
Any substance that causes a greater sense of relaxation such as painkillers and muscle relaxers can be considered addictive.
Some of these substances are meant to be taken for a short period. One brand name of carisoprodol, Soma, is a schedule IV controlled substance. This decreases the likelihood of abuse or dependence because it’s required to be taken according to your doctors’ orders.
How addictive muscle relaxers are varies. Some people may find the relaxing and sedative effects to be very pleasurable. Some people fear the pain will return when their prescription runs out. Both of these scenarios factor into whether a person will become addicted to muscle relaxers.
If you’re concerned about your use of muscle relaxers, reach out. Addiction treatment requires a holistic approach. When joining Sequoia Behavioral Health, we not only treat addiction but also any underlying mental health issues in our residential and partial hospitalization programs.
Other Dangers of Muscle Relaxers
When you take muscle relaxers according to your prescription, the dangers are relatively low. However, when combined with other depressants, the side effects amplify and can become dangerous.
Common side effects when mixing depressants include:
- Extreme drowsiness
- Loss of consciousness
- Liver damage
- Respiratory depression
You should avoid other depressants like alcohol and benzos while using muscle relaxers.
Getting Help For Muscle Relaxer Addiction
Tackling prescription drug abuse and addiction will likely feel like a tough battle. Your doctor prescribed the drug to you so you need it right?
You shouldn’t have to go through this battle alone, and seeking help will increase the likelihood of recovery. There is help available and you can get through it.
Explore Alternative Pain Management
People who are prescribed antispasmodics have typically already tried other pain management options. However, the options are endless, and alternative pain management is immensely helpful for overcoming addiction.
Alternatives can be found on your own time by exploring alternative methods, or you can seek counsel from medical professionals.
Solutions could include a combination of several things.
- Recreational therapy
- Other medication
- Massages
Explore Counseling
We don’t often develop addictions in a vacuum. Most of the time, there are other underlying mental health problems.
Therapy can help resolve some of the hurt you may have caused to yourself or others while addicted. Taking a holistic approach to recovery will increase your odds of getting back to the life you want to live.
Get Individualized Addiction Treatment at Sequoia
Like other prescription drugs, muscle relaxers can be incredibly helpful, but some people are more prone than others to create a dependence. However, you don’t have to be stuck there.
Sequoia Behavioral Health offers individualized inpatient treatment options for several mental health issues, addictions, and dual diagnosis. Every person’s treatment is catered to their situation, needs, and goals.