Examples of Muscle Relaxers
Brand Name
|
Generic / Chemical Name
|
- Valium
- Flexeril
- Soma
- Norflex
- Robaxin
|
- diazepam
- cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride
- carisoprodol
- orphenadrine citrate
- methocarbamol
|
Valium is not recommended for use by pregnant women, older adults, or people with depression or a history of drug or alcohol addiction.
How Well do Muscle Relaxers Work?
Muscle relaxant medications are usually helpful for reducing the pain of muscle spasms.
Side Effects
Side effects of muscle relaxant medications include:
- Drowsiness.
- Dry mouth.
- Likelihood of addiction with regular use of diazepam (Valium) and carisoprodol (such as Soma).
- Urinary retention.
See individual Drug References for a full list of side effects.
What To Think About
Muscle relaxant medications work best when taken before bedtime. They should not be used when driving or operating machinery.
