Serious Side Effects Of Muscle Relaxers

Muscle relaxers, also called muscle relaxants, are medications used to treat muscle spasticity or muscle spasms. Muscle cramps and spasms occur when there are sudden and involuntary contractions of a group of muscles or a singular muscle. Muscle spasms and cramps can be caused by muscle overuse and strain, dehydration, fatigue, and stress. Chronic conditions, including nerve disorders, can also cause them. Neck pain, lower back pain, and fibromyalgia all tend to present with cramping. Muscle spasticity occurs when a muscle continuously spasms to the point of tightness, rigidity, or stiffness. This condition can interfere with normal movement, talking, or walking. It is caused by conditions that injure the brain or spinal cord.

As mentioned, patients often take muscle relaxer pills as a treatment for muscle spasms. They are also an effective option for muscle cramp treatment. Some individuals may see benefits from taking muscle relaxers for neck pain. Of course, patients must understand the potential side effects of muscle relaxers first.

Dizziness

Dizziness is a common side effect of centrally-acting skeletal muscle relaxants. These medications are prescribed alongside physical therapy and rest to help with muscle spasm relief. They act on the central nervous system by creating a sedating effect or preventing the nerves from transmitting pain signals to the brain. As the effects of long-term use are not proven, patients should not take these for longer than two to three weeks. Patients experiencing dizziness may have trouble keeping their balance and suddenly get lightheaded when they stand up.

Though dizziness is not always a sign of a serious problem, patients should talk to a doctor if it is interfering with their day-to-day life. They also should not drive a car or do other potentially dangerous tasks until they are aware of how the medication affects them. Individuals should not take muscle relaxants with alcohol or other central nervous system depressants, as this can lead to worse dizziness and potential coma or death.

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Fatigue Or Drowsiness

Fatigue and drowsiness are also common side effects of a muscle relaxer that works on the central nervous system. This is another reason individuals should not drive or do potentially dangerous activities until they know how they affect them. Some patients may find muscle relaxers make them fall asleep much more quickly than trying to sleep without these medications. Of course, individuals should not take these medications with alcohol. The reason is that if they do, the fatigue they cause can be just the start of a potentially life-threatening reaction.

If patients find the fatigue they are experiencing is interfering with their daily life, they should talk to a doctor about alternative options for treatment. It is important not to combine muscle relaxers with sleeping medications or depressant drugs like opioids. Individuals also should not use them with St. John's wort or similar herbal supplements. Patients who have liver problems, who have a neurological disorder or mental health issue, or who are older than sixty-five years old, should talk to their doctor about how to safely mitigate the effects of muscle relaxers.

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