How Do Muscle Relaxers Make You Feel?

Skeletal muscle relaxers offer essential relief for individuals experiencing moderate to severe muscle spasms and cramps.[1] However, medications in this category can lead to various side effects, which for some may be quite debilitating.

From extreme drowsiness to difficulty breathing and lightheadedness to anxiety, read on to learn what you might experience when taking a muscle relaxer.[2]

What is a Muscle Relaxer?

A muscle relaxer is prescribed to treat mild to severe muscle pain. They are divided into two classes: antispasmodics and antispastics.[4]

• Antispasmodics work by decreasing nerve activity in the central nervous system. They are best for treating muscle spasm pain caused by strains, sprains, or injuries.
• Antispastics work directly on the affected muscle or spinal cord and are best for cases of muscle spasms and stiffness. People with conditions such as multiple sclerosis and cerebral palsy are often prescribed antispastics to reduce spasms and pain related to them.

These medications are available in various doses and can be administered intravenously, intramuscularly, topically, or orally as tablets, capsules, or a liquid syrup.

Some muscle relaxers can be habit-forming, while others are not. Habit-forming muscle relaxers are classified as controlled substances and include opioids such as codeine and Valium.

Commonly Used Muscle Relaxers

Some muscle relaxers are administered in a medical setting for acute conditions, and others are prescribed.

The most commonly administered and prescribed muscle relaxers include:

• Carisoprodol (Soma)[5]
• Chlorzoxazone (Lorzone)[6]
• Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)[7]
• Metaxalone (Skelaxin)[8]
• Methocarbamol (Robaxin)[9]
• Orphenadrine (Norflex)[10]
• Tizanidine (Zanaflex)[11]
• Diazepam (Valium)[12]
• Baclofen (Lioresal)

What are the Physical Side Effects of Muscle Relaxers?

Muscle relaxers cause a number of physical side effects ranging from mild to moderate. However, these side effects differ depending on the type of muscle relaxer and its formulation. Commonly though, people using muscle relaxers will experience drowsiness and nausea.

Common side effects of muscle relaxers include:[2]

• Dry mouth
• Unsteady gait
• Nausea
• Lightheadedness
• Headache
• Loss of appetite
• Slowed heart rate
• Blurred vision
• Diarrhea

What are the Psychological Side Effects of a Muscle Relaxer?

Along with physical effects, some muscle relaxers impact a person’s mental state, leading to several psychological side effects.

They include, but aren’t limited to:[2]

• Agitation
• Anxiety
• Depressed mood
• Forgetfulness
• Hallucinations
• Confusion

Remember, each muscle relaxer is different and will yield different side effects. To know which side effects you’re likely to experience, read the leaflet included with your prescription or ask a pharmacist.

What are the Signs of Muscle Relaxer Toxicity?

Muscle relaxers, like other medications, should only be used as prescribed. Taking doses too close together or doubling them up can lead to an overdose, also called toxicity. The signs of muscle relaxer toxicity are heavily dependent on the type of muscle relaxer used and how it was administered.

Common signs of a muscle relaxer overdose include:[13]

• Shallow breathing
• Difficulty breathing
• Slowed, increased, or abnormal heartbeat
• High or  low blood pressure
• Low pulse oxygen
• Slurred speech
• Losing consciousness
• Sudden agitation
• Hallucinations
• Confusion/disorientation
• Unresponsiveness
• Coma
• Seizure
• Blue lips or skin

A muscle relaxer overdose can be deadly. Receiving treatment immediately is the best chance you’ll have at avoiding lifelong complications or, in some cases, death.

If you suspect someone has overdosed on muscle relaxers, call 9-1-1 immediately and let the operator know what medication they’ve taken, if you know.

What are the Long-Term Effects of Taking a Muscle Relaxer?

The most common long-term effects of taking a muscle relaxer are tolerance, dependency, and in extreme cases, addiction.

Tolerance

Tolerance occurs when someone uses a medication at high enough doses that it becomes less effective at its initial therapeutic dose.[15] This means the doses must be titrated to resume effectiveness. While this should only be done under a doctor’s supervision, some people take the liberty of increasing it themselves. This is a dangerous practice which can result in an overdose.

Dependence

Some muscle relaxers affect how the brain sends and receives signals. Abusing these medications can cause chemical changes in the brain that make it difficult to function without them. Individuals with a dependence on a medication like these can experience physical and psychological discomfort whenever they abstain from use.[15] This includes pain, anxiety, depression, and drug cravings. Unfortunately, this discomfort is only relieved when the person resumes using the substance.

Repeated cycles of abstinence and relapse can lead to the development of a substance use disorder (SUD). This is especially true if the individual begins to avoid family and friends to hide their drug use or spends too much time trying to recover from its effects.

Addiction

Addiction happens when someone cannot function without their substance of choice.[16] It is considered a brain disease that causes ongoing relapses, even if the person wants to stop.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, addiction represents the most advanced stage of a substance use disorder. It requires detoxification along with other scientifically supported interventions to prevent future relapses and achieve successful abstinence.

Can Taking a Muscle Relaxer Long-Term Cause Withdrawal Symptoms?

Yes, some medications are more likely to cause withdrawal symptoms after discontinuation than others. Soma, for example, has a high potential for tolerance and dependence. When someone becomes physically dependent on Soma, they may continue using it even if they don’t want to, primarily to avoid experiencing withdrawal symptoms.

Withdrawal from muscle relaxers can be mild, moderate, or severe and include symptoms such as:[18]

• Vomiting
• Stomach cramps
• Headache
• Insomnia
• Muscle twitching
• Tremor
• Hallucination
• Psychosis (in severe cases)

The best way to prevent withdrawal is to follow a tapered protocol and inform your healthcare provider if you’re struggling with cravings to reinitiate use.

Are You or Someone You Know Addicted to Muscle Relaxers?

If you are caught in a cycle of misusing muscle relaxers and struggling to recover, you’re not alone.

At Engage Wellness Acton, we have helped numerous clients through our innovative, evidence-based programs to identify the roots of addiction and create strategies for managing triggers that could cause relapse.

To learn how we can help you overcome muscle relaxant dependency and regain control of your life, call us today.

Frequently Asked Questions