Muscle relaxers are medications that reduce tension in the muscles. These medications are intended to temporarily treat muscle strain from an injury. They can also be used to treat long-term medical conditions like Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy, or spinal injury. Muscle relaxers require a prescription for use.
It’s important to remember that giving someone else muscle relaxers can cause the person harm. Each prescription takes into account a person’s medical conditions, medical history, and current medications taken.
Medications classified as muscle relaxants include:
| Generic: | Brand Name: |
| Baclofen |
Gablofen® |
| Carisoprodo | Soma® |
| Cyclobenzaprine |
Flexeril® |
| Diazepam |
Valium® |
| Metaxalone |
Skelaxin® |
| Methocarbamol |
Robaxin® |
What can happen when muscle relaxers are taken inappropriately?
Taking more of a muscle relaxer than directed can have several negative consequences, including:
Muscle relaxers can slow the rate of breathing and the depth a person breathes while sleeping. Taking too many muscle relaxers at one time or taking them with other sedatives like alcohol or sleep aids can cause a person to stop breathing.
How can misuse of muscle relaxers aids be prevented?
If you’re taking a muscle relaxer, these steps can help prevent a medication poisoning:
Call NC Poison Control, your doctor, or your pharmacy if you have questions about your muscle relaxers or possible drug interactions with other medications. You don’t have to wait for a problem to arise before calling NC Poison Control. You can call with questions, too.
What should you do if you or someone you know has taken a muscle relaxer incorrectly?
If the person is not breathing or not responsive, call 911 immediately. Otherwise, you can call NC Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 or chat from this site for medication assistance from our specially trained nurses and pharmacists 24 hours a day.
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