What's the best muscle relaxant available with a prescription? All opinions wanted!
Question posted by mitjason on 21 Dec 2009
Last updated on 10 September 2021
I'm about to start a skeletal muscle relaxant for physical therapy and need your help! Here are a list of skeletal muscle relaxants. Please select the one you have had the best results with and let me know about it! I would appreciate it so much! Thanks in advance!
I've tried every one on you're list, and my personal opinion is either Soma or Zanaflex. The Zanaflex worked the best for my severe muscle spasm's.
Votes: +2
PA
palmetto user
7 Jan 2012
Short term use (not exceeding 2 weeks) Flexeril 5 or 10mg tablet hs (hour of sleep) is highly effective. Do not combine with other anti-spasmodic meds and caution when combining with pain killers. Added benefit with rest and local physiotherapy.
Votes: +0
SO
soldiers girl
31 July 2011
I found Robaxin during the day, and then Soma at night works best for ME. Flexeril and Skelaxin were absolute crap, and did NOTHING. When your back literally balls up and you can feel the muscles protruding in spasm, you need something with kick. Parafon Forte also helped, as well as Ativan. I have been lucky to find doctors not afraid to experiment til we found what works. Alot of drs will not prescribe Soma or Ativan for fear of the DEA. Which is crazy, because drs are supposed to do what's best for the patient, and the government should stay out of that relationship, in my opinion. But I was on Ativan for over a year, had no problems stopping, no withdrawal, because I took it correctly. So no matter what you get, always ALWAYS follow the label, and you'll be fine:) Good luck!
Votes: +10
CL
cleo130
6 April 2012
I've been on Ativan on and off for over 20 years. Same dose, 1mg taken twice a day. I used to take it for anxiety, but now I find that it does work very well with my interstitial cystitis pain (among a list of other pain issues, of course). I just put one and two under my tongue and they genuinely help with the burning, stabbling pain. I've been given valium for the same purpose, but the ativan works much better for me. I build up a tolerance to valium, and 10mg does nothing for me. I also take Soma and ms contin (usually Avinza 120mg, but it costs $50., whereas ms contin is only $10).
I no longer like the "druggy" feeling. I only want pain relief and as clear a head as possible.
LU
lund_ellen
4 June 2012
hey there soldiers girl, your comments are well said and i feel exactly the same as you do. what business or should i say what right does the DEA have to interfere with how a dr. treats and prescribes rx drugs to each of his or her patients. it's just wrong. they sould keep their nose out of this, afterall, the treating dr. knows what rx's to prescribe each individual patient and it's up to him as far as how to treat their patients. the DEA hasn't a clue what each patient requires as far as the prescribing of meds. for them to dictate to dr's that they cannot prescrihe meds. the dr. feels the patient can benefit from is strictly between patient and dr. oh well, hopefully the DEA, CDC, etc., will read our posts and reconsider the decision they have made regarding the prescribing of SOMA. perhaps they can clear their heads and think more clearly and reconsider the whole issue.
if enough of us vent our frustrations, and disappointments, maybe they'll get a grip on themselves and realize how unrealistic their decision concerning SOMA is and change their stance on it. thanx for your input soldiers girl. good luck to you too. be well. wish you the best and hope to communicate again in the future.
PE
Pepperpot1808
19 July 2011
I take Baclofen, but used Flexeril before. I found that I developed a tolerance to Flexeril rather quickly, so Baclofen seems to be the best for me.
Just my opinion.
Votes: +1
IN
Inactive
29 June 2011
In a word, Flexeril!
Votes: +1
ME
mee7779
29 June 2011
i have taken flexiral, and i have taken somas, i found that for me somas work alot better
Votes: +0
IN
Inactive
4 Feb 2011
My husband & I both use Flexeril as a muscle relaxant. Please when you make a decision, check out this sites drugs A to Z & read about the one you are going to take. You may have constipation, be sleepy & other side effects depending on what other conditions and/or meds you take.
Votes: +2
RA
rachaelk
4 Feb 2011
I have taken flexeril, which made me groggy and did not work well (the only pain med I am on is Tramadol). So the doctor put me on Baclafen, which I had horrible reaction. I could not control my muscles and had emtreme muscle lack of control. I ended up at the ER and saw my doctor the next day. She agreed with the ER docs and tapered me off. I have been on Soma ever since. It is a litlle milder than the Baclofen, but no side effects. My doctor told me that Baclofen is actually the "preferred preferred medication" over soma, but I will never put that stuff in my body again.
Votes: +0
SH
shelly1987
30 Jan 2011
I found soma 350mg to be the best out of all muscle relaxers I have been on and off them for years for chronic back pain between that and norco but off for three weeks trying to quit them, but the motrin is doing nothing so back to the soma,,
Votes: +4
CA
caringsonbj
23 Jan 2011
there are a few others one I can think of is Robaxin 500mg, another is Parafon Forte one that is used as an antiinflammatory and does well is Motrin but I am not talking about the one that you buy over the counter they have one that is stronger by prescription wishing you all the best
Votes: +2
DZ
DzooBaby
15 Jan 2011
Everyone can give you different answers because drugs all work slightly different in everyone and what works well for one is horrible for another. Many Drs dont like to prescribe Soma because they can be addictive. The feeling on Soma for a lot of people can be almost like alcohol, slurred speech, lack of coordination etc. I like Soma-they work well if you take them at night. I could take them or leave them though so I know I never got addicted to them but they do have addictive properties. As far as actual evidence based studies-there is no better muscle relaxant than Valium but most Drs will not prescribe those either. Studies have shown they have the best actual effect on the muscle tissue but unless you have contractions or seizures you are probably not getting those.
Flexeril are good but they give me EXTREME dry mouth, they made me sleepy at first but that got better the longer I took them but I couldn't take the dry mouth!! Skelaxin are ok-they make you less drowsy, actually for me I felt a little jumpy with them but they are not a bad choice if you dont want to be sleepy. Tizanidine is what the Dr has me on now. They work well but only for a few hours. These do make me very sleepy and I have been on them at bedtime for over a year now and that sleepiness is still there. I cant take them in the daytime because of excessive sleepiness. Baclofen works well for some but it made me very nauseated! Yuck... Paraflex is ok some slight drowsiness there too. Norflex did not work at all for me. It is also supposed to cause less drowsiness. I've never tried Dantrium.
Votes: +5
TC
tcccpa
11 July 2012
I agree, I have had many reactions to drugs that were almost opposite of the desired effect.
CA
Cathleen186
14 Jan 2011
I have only tried soma and flexeril. My doc prescribes flexeril for me, but if were my choice i'd go for the soma instead. Cathleen
Votes: +4
CA
caringsonbj
14 Jan 2011
I have tried soma, flexeril, Robaxin, Skeleaxin and if memory serves me correctly at one time they used Diazepam (people's doctors can use various things) I think even though I had some side effects flexeril then Skelaxin and another was Parafon forte (I don't know if they still use that much) I pray that things improve for you
Votes: +0
IH
IhearttheOcean
10 Nov 2010
Ive tried most of them and Soma by far is my choice
Votes: +2
ST
sTigerrr
9 Nov 2010
For me, xanax or klonopin by far. It's the only thing that has given my legs relief from pain, muscle twitching, and freezing cold feet despite 2 normal ultrasounds of the legs. And as a bonus, I haven't had to have my botox injections for dystonia (every 3-4 months for years) since March since being rx'd a benzo. I take it with a 5-hour energy drink so I don't feel any tired side effect. Just my experience.
Votes: +3
TC
tcccpa
11 July 2012
Ironic, these 2 drugs were nightmares for me. When hospitalized for treatment resistent depression my doctor put me on a large dose of zanax and did not ever take me off. I was so rundown I was unable to hardly do any thing but when I tried to stop I couldn't. Had to go to rehab hospital to get off. I also developed type 2 diabetes while on xanax. klonopin was also just too strong for me. I had a car accident while driving, was lucky not to have received a dui.
AN
angel9kate
30 July 2012
Id have to go with Soma for the winner... only thing that really helps with that kinda pain... if i could still get em lol
and i havent touched xanax or kpin in about a year. I woke up in the hospital in restraints after (in a benzo blackout) swalling my entire, just refilled script. i was on 2mg clonapin 4 times a day... all 120pills... i hadnt had any in weeks and instantly put myself in a blackout after taking 2 pills. i died at one point. in the ICU... got admitted... then got discharged after 13 days... straight to a duel-diagnosis rehab (against my will, but not like i was concious for longer than 2mins at a time). i had developed sever liver failure among other things. (btw i had gastric bypass 3 yrs ago, lost 183lbs, so by the time ppl had found me OD' they couldnt use charcoal). only good thing bout this was they diagnosed me correctly with irratable and excitable phsycosis, PTSD anxiety, ADD, Bi-polar, and migraines..
So finally the benzo toxity was starting to come back down and liver lvls down.i started having panic attacks which resulted in me passing out of course and they had to put me back kpins. got toxic again then... they put a section 12 on me. (meaning i go to jail to clean up). people called me the "tin man" because of the toxicity. i still wasnt fully clean when i finally got released.
still had to fight the urge when i got out tho.
anyways.. im sorry ive rambled, if ive offended anyone please for give me...
Soma and clonapin are the only things that helped my disorders and pain... and believe me ive tried pretty much everything.