17 Common Muscle Relaxers and How to Identify Them

Many prescription and over-the-counter remedies can help ease muscle spasms and muscle spasticity.

Muscle relaxers, also called muscle relaxants, are drugs prescribed to treat muscle spasms or spasticity.

Muscle spasms or cramps are abrupt, involuntary tightenings of one muscle or a group of muscles. They often result from excessive muscle strain and can be painful. They’re frequently associated with conditions like lower back pain, neck pain, and fibromyalgia.

Muscle spasticity, in contrast, is a persistent muscle contraction that causes stiffness, rigidity, or tightness and can disrupt normal walking, speech, or other movements.

Spasticity results from damage to areas of the brain or spinal cord that control movement. Disorders that produce muscle spasticity include multiple sclerosis (MS), cerebral palsy, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Prescription medications can reduce the pain and discomfort of muscle spasms or spasticity. Additionally, certain over-the-counter medicines may be used to relieve the aches and pains linked to muscle spasms.

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Prescription medications

Prescription drugs fall into two categories: antispasmodics and antispastics.

Antispasmodics are intended for muscle spasms, while antispastics address muscle spasticity. Some antispasmodics, such as tizanidine, can also treat spasticity. However, antispastics are not appropriate for simple muscle spasms.

Antispasmodics: Centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxants (SMRs)

Centrally acting SMRs are used alongside rest and physical therapy to help reduce muscle spasms. They likely work by producing a sedative effect or by blocking nerve signals that transmit pain to your brain.

These muscle relaxants should only be used for short durations. The safety of prolonged use is not yet established.

Although antispasmodics can treat muscle spasms, studies haven’t proven they outperform nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen. They also tend to have more side effects than NSAIDs or acetaminophen.

Common side effects of centrally acting SMRs include:

• drowsiness
• dizziness
• headache
• nervousness
• drop in blood pressure when standing

Discuss the pros and cons of these medicines with your doctor for treating muscle spasms.

List of centrally acting SMRs

Generic name — Brand name — Form — Generic available

carisoprodol — Soma — tablet — yes

carisoprodol/aspirin — not available — tablet — yes

carisoprodol/aspirin/codeine — not available — tablet — yes

chlorzoxazone — Parafon Forte, Lorzone — tablet — yes

cyclobenzaprine — Fexmid, Flexeril, Amrix — tablet, extended-release capsule — tablet only

metaxalone — Skelaxin, Metaxall — tablet — yes

methocarbamol — Robaxin — tablet — yes

orphenadrine — Norflex — extended-release tablet — yes

tizanidine — Zanaflex — tablet, capsule — yes

Antispastics

Antispastics are intended to control muscle spasticity and should not be used for routine muscle spasms. These drugs are listed here and include the following:

Baclofen

Baclofen (Lioresal) is a skeletal muscle relaxant used to ease spasticity from MS. Its exact mechanism isn’t completely understood, but it appears to block spinal cord nerve signals that trigger muscle spasms. Possible side effects include drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, and fatigue.

Dantrolene

Dantrolene (Dantrium) is a skeletal muscle relaxant used for spasms after spinal cord injury, stroke, cerebral palsy, or MS. It acts directly on skeletal muscle to relax spasms. Side effects can include drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, and tiredness.

Diazepam

Diazepam (Valium) is a benzodiazepine used to relieve muscle spasms from inflammation, trauma, or spasticity.

It works by enhancing the activity of a neurotransmitter to reduce muscle spasms. Diazepam is sedating; side effects may include drowsiness, fatigue, and muscle weakness.

List of antispastics

Generic name — Brand name — Form — Generic available

baclofen — Lioresal, Gablofen, Lioresal — tablet, injection — yes

dantrolene — Dantrium — tablet — yes

diazepam — Valium — oral suspension, tablet, injection — yes

Dependence and other risks

Some muscle relaxants, such as carisoprodol and diazepam, can be habit-forming. Always take these drugs exactly as your doctor prescribes.

Stopping muscle relaxants abruptly can cause withdrawal symptoms, including seizures or hallucinations. Do not discontinue them suddenly, especially after long-term use.

Muscle relaxants suppress the central nervous system (CNS), which can impair attention and alertness. While taking them, avoid tasks that need mental focus or coordination, such as driving or operating heavy machinery.

You should not combine muscle relaxants with:

• alcohol
• CNS depressants like opioids or psychotropic drugs
• sleeping pills
• herbal remedies such as St. John’s wort

Talk with your doctor about safe use of muscle relaxants if you:

• are older than 65
• have a psychiatric condition or brain disorder
• have liver disease

Off-label medications for spasticity

Physicians may prescribe certain drugs for spasticity even if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t specifically approved them for that use. This practice is known as off-label prescribing.

Some agents aren’t traditional muscle relaxants but can still help reduce spasticity symptoms.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are sedatives that can relax muscles. They work by amplifying the effects of certain neurotransmitters, the chemicals that transmit signals between brain cells.

Examples include:

• clonazepam (Klonopin)
• lorazepam (Ativan)
• alprazolam (Xanax)

Side effects may include drowsiness, impaired balance, and memory issues. These drugs also carry a risk of dependence.

Gabapentin

Gabapentin (Neurontin) is an anticonvulsant originally used to treat seizures. It may also reduce pain responses tied to spasticity. Gabapentin is available in both brand-name and generic forms.

Over-the-counter options for muscle spasms

OTC therapy is recommended as first-line care for muscle spasms from conditions like acute low back pain or tension headache. In other words, try OTC measures before moving to prescription drugs.

OTC choices include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, or both. Your doctor or pharmacist can advise which OTC product is best for you.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)

NSAIDs work by blocking your body’s production of substances that cause inflammation and pain. They’re sold in both generic and brand-name forms, typically over the counter, though stronger versions require a prescription.

NSAIDs are available as oral tablets, capsules, or suspensions, and some are chewable for children. Side effects can include stomach upset and dizziness.

Examples include:

• ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
• naproxen (Aleve)

Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) likely works by preventing your body from producing certain pain-causing substances. It is available both generically and by brand name and comes in immediate-release and extended-release tablets and capsules, orally disintegrating tablets, chewables, and liquid forms.

Common side effects of acetaminophen can include nausea and stomach upset.

Cannabis

Some studies suggest certain cannabis compounds may act as muscle relaxants, including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the component responsible for marijuana’s psychoactive effects.

However, research into cannabis’s medicinal benefits is limited because cultivation, distribution, and possession remain illegal in many places.

More investigation is needed to determine whether cannabis or its compounds can effectively reduce muscle spasms or spasticity.

When to call your doctor

You can often manage muscle spasm or spasticity symptoms at home, but sometimes you’ll need medical input or care. Contact your doctor if you:

• experience spasticity for the first time without a known cause
• find the spasticity worsening, happening more frequently, or interfering with daily tasks
• have severe, frequent muscle spasms
• notice deformity in body parts affected by muscle spasms
• experience adverse effects from your muscle relaxant
• develop a “frozen joint” from contracture that limits range of motion or causes pressure sores
• have increasing pain or discomfort

Frequently asked questions

What are the top 5 muscle relaxers?

Choices depend on individual needs and other factors, but five commonly prescribed medications are:

• baclofen (Lioresal)
• dantrolene (Dantrium)
• carisoprodol (Soma)
• chlorzoxazone (Lorzone)
• methocarbamol (Robaxin)

Is there an over the counter muscle relaxer?

There are currently no over-the-counter muscle relaxants in the United States. However, acetaminophen and NSAIDs like ibuprofen can help relieve sore muscles.

Are muscle relaxants safe to take?

Safety depends on individual circumstances; some types can cause dependence and many interact with alcohol and other medications. Always review the benefits and risks with your prescribing physician and follow directions closely.

Takeaway

It’s essential to address both spasticity and muscle spasms. Severe, chronic spasticity can lead to muscle contractures that limit motion or leave joints permanently flexed.

Muscle spasms can be uncomfortable and may signal an underlying medical issue.

Your spasms or spasticity are often manageable with rest, physical therapy, medications, or a combination. Work with your healthcare provider to create a treatment plan that reduces pain and restores comfortable movement.