An occasional painful spasm resulting from muscle stiffness is a common complaint nowadays. Muscles can become stiff from being sedentary, whether at work or in general, and also due to improper sleeping positions or overexertion during workouts or sports. To address this, many resort to taking muscle relaxant pills as a temporary fix. However, experts advise against their indiscriminate usage, citing side effects such as dizziness, blurred vision and nausea. They explain how muscle relaxers work while listing the dos and don’ts you must follow to ensure safe and responsible usage.
Muscle relaxants: Their functions and types
Muscle relaxants are medications that alleviate stiffness and pain experienced in the skeletal muscles. “They can be used to treat many kinds of musculoskeletal pain like lower back pain caused by prolonged sitting, neck pain caused by prolonged usage of computers and muscle spasms caused by overexerting while playing sports,” says Dr Harish Puranik, senior consultant, orthopedics, Fortis Hospital, Nagarbhavi, Bangalore.
Muscle relaxants are of two types: antispasmodics and antispastics. “Antispasmodic muscle relaxants are commonly used for muscle aches, back pain, neck pain, etc.,” says Dr Anil R Patil, consultant arthroscopic surgeon and sports medicine specialist, SPARSH Hospital, Bangalore. “Antispastics are specifically used to treat neurological conditions like cerebral palsy, spastic muscles in people with a history of strokes, etc.”
Additionally, many smooth muscle spasms can also be treated with antispasmodics. “They are effective in relieving colic spasms in children with intestinal cramps or even kidney stone spasms,” adds Dr Puranik.
How do muscle relaxants work?
Muscle relaxants work on the nerves that connect the nervous system to the muscles. “While some act slightly higher up on the central nervous system, where the nerves arise from the brain, others work at the peripheral region of the nerve close to the junction of the nerve and muscle,” says Dr Puranik.
Antispasmodic and antispastic relaxants work differently. “Antispasmodics are mild drugs that relax the muscles by acting on the central nervous system in the brain or spinal cord. They tell the brain to cease inducing spasms in the muscles and allow them to relax. The antispastics are slightly stronger; they act directly on the muscles. Therefore, the muscles don’t respond to the signal even though the brain sends it,” elaborates Dr Patil.
Side effects of muscle relaxants
Even though muscle relaxants can help relieve musculoskeletal pain, these medications should be used under prescription due to their potential side effects. “Since they primarily work on the channels of the nerves and muscles, many of the muscle relaxants slow down the nerves to a certain extent, causing a mild sedative effect,” informs Dr Puranik.
Due to this, people are more likely to take these medications for a longer period, which raises the risk of developing an unhealthy dependency. “Some of them can be harmful to the kidneys or liver, while others can cause allergic reactions and severe vomiting,” says Dr Puranik.
“The antispastics may cause respiratory depression [slow and shallow breathing]. They can interact with other drugs that you are taking and cause dizziness, dry mouth, diarrhea, loose stools, blurred vision, etc.,” adds Dr Patil.
Thus, these medications should only be taken for the prescribed period and not longer.
Dos and don’ts
Muscle relaxants are often abused due to their sedative and pain-relieving properties. Hence, experts recommend some things to keep in mind when opting for them. “If you are taking muscle relaxants at night, driving after that should be avoided at all costs,” cautions Dr Puranik.
In addition, alcohol and muscle relaxants do not go well together. “If one takes muscle relaxants while being intoxicated, the sedative effect usually gets doubled,” says Dr Puranik.
Adding to this, Dr Patil shares that alcohol and muscle relaxants are central nervous system depressants (colloquially known as downers). Hence, it’s not wise to have a drink if one has taken such medication.
Muscle relaxants are also not the primary solution to the problem. “They are not the first drug of choice for pain relief. They are given as adjuncts to relax the muscle while painkillers are given to manage the pain,” says Dr Patil.
“Moreover, muscle relaxants tend to weaken the muscle in the long term. Since they give a feeling of relief, the person falls into the cycle of taking them whenever the pain is felt. Most often, they do not address the original cause,” reminds Dr Puranik.
While muscle relaxants provide temporary relief from pain, alternate methods should be sought for a permanent solution.
Takeaways
- Muscle relaxants are drugs that help alleviate stiffness in the muscles and reduce pain.
- Antispasmodics and antispastics are two types of muscle relaxants prescribed depending on the type of pain.
- These drugs can have many side effects, with sedation being quite common. For this reason, one shouldn’t drive after taking them. Additionally, experts advise against alcohol consumption when taking these medicines.
- Muscle relaxants are not the permanent solution to musculoskeletal pain and tend to weaken the muscles over time.
