I’m allergic to so many of the muscle relaxers, I want to try something different. I take methocarbamol without a problem but it doesn’t work very well. I’m hoping to get some relief somehow. I’m slowly weaning off duloxetine and I stopped taking gabapentin and trazodone without weaning. I’m having withdrawals. When I entered all my medications here, I found I had a lot of drugs that I shouldn’t take together. The main one is duloxetine but methocarbamol is another. I have to take something for the pain. I have fibromyalgia, PTSD, Rls, CFS, anxiety, myalgia’s and insomnia. I sleep one day and then no sleep for two. Any advice is welcome. Thanks
Does Valium work well for a muscle relaxer?
Question posted by lucyricky on 7 Nov 2023
Last updated on 11 November 2023 by Judyrae59
5 Answers
Judyrae59
11 Nov 2023
I too have been given numerous muscle relaxer medications and none of them seem to work other than to make me terribly groggy when I wake up.
The ONLY medication I have taken which actually works as a muscle relaxer is VALIUM. I was prescribed 10mg before bedtime years ago to take AS NEEDED, and It has been a lifesaver for me. I have chronic migraines, and my neck muscles tense up, which, in turn, sets my migraines off. I also have horrible lower back muscle spasms due to chronic back issues which started with me breaking my back in 2006 and then having 3 back surgeries. The only one of those back surgeries that helped was the one for the herniated disc. The other two back surgeries just made things worse. I have pain medication, but I also take 10mg of Valium AS NEEDED for the muscle spasms in my back which cause me additional pain.
Many doctors don't like to prescribe Valium as a muscle relaxant, but since I had already taken so many different actual muscle relaxants and NONE of them did anything for me my doctor agreed to write me a prescription for Valium. Even my pharmacist agrees that Valium is one of the best uses of Valium. Personally I like Valium better not only because it truly helps my muscle spasms, but I don't wake up groggy like I did with all the other muscle relaxants.
Talk with your doctor and see what they think, but as for me, it's my go-to for muscle spasms/relaxer.
bobsy
11 Nov 2023
Short answer: Yes
Debinoz
11 Nov 2023
Hi! Before I knew I had Fibromyalgia I used to take Diazepam for anxiety (PTSD) of travelling in a vehicle. Sometimes I would get muscle spasms and was prescribed 1/2 tablet also to act as a muscle relaxant. They seemed to take the edge off but in no way fixed the issues. This was all well before I knew anything about my Fibromyalgia condition.
Recently when I was discussing with my Psychologist how I had to seek out help for "turning off my brain when it was doing overtime at night" and the GP prescribed me Melatonin due to my age and sleep disorder and I explained I only took it when required which has really helped me. The body doesn't produce enough of this hormone naturally after a certain age. The psychologist asked me if I had tried valium also to do the same thing as that is what he does. We are both on the spectrum of autism, by the way. He highly recommended it mainly for me as it is on the reduced priced prescriptions wheras Melatonin isn't.
masso
10 Nov 2023
Valium (diazepam) belongs to the drug class of benzodiazepines, these can be very addicting and most commonly used short term for no longer than 4 months.
" It is thought that diazepam works by enhancing the activity of certain neurotransmitters in the brain.
Valium is used to treat anxiety disorders, or alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
Valium is sometimes used with other medications to treat muscle spasms and stiffness, or seizures."
https://www.drugs.com/valium.html
Click on the link in order to access user reviews of this medication for muscle spasms:
https://www.drugs.com/comments/diazepam/valium-for-muscle-spasm.html
masso
10 Nov 2023
If you have FM you probably at one point used Lyrica (pregabalin) to ease the symptoms of FM.
Here is a list of meds for FM with user reviews:
https://www.drugs.com/condition/fibromyalgia.html
With regards to your anxiety, Valium may help treat it but personally I would try an alternative med like Buspar (buspirone).:
BuSpar is an anti-anxiety medicine that affects chemicals in the brain that may be unbalanced in people with anxiety.
BuSpar is used to treat anxiety disorders or the symptoms of anxiety, such as fear, tension, irritability, dizziness, pounding heartbeat, and other physical symptoms.
BuSpar is not an anti-psychotic medication and should not be used in place of medication prescribed by your doctor for mental illness.
BuSpar may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
https://www.drugs.com/buspar.html
For you insomnia you probably have tried Melatonin which is a good choice as it is not addicting, if you have not tried it, I recommend you ask your Dr. about it.
https://www.drugs.com/melatonin.html
List of meds for insomnia with user reviews:
https://www.drugs.com/melatonin.html
PTSD meds:
https://www.drugs.com/condition/post-traumatic-stress-disorder.html
It is important that you are well informed of the alternatives you have so for your next Dr.´s appointment you can discuss more viable possibilities to treat your conditions in the best way possible and above all for your safety As you know medications do interact and some potential interactions can be of high risk, besides it is always good to know what possible side effects of each medication may or may not affect you.
jammark
10 Nov 2023
Among other conditions, I also suffer from fibromyalgia, panic disorder, anxiety disorder and insomnia. The medications I use that help with all of the above are tramadol, clonazepam, and tizanidine. A painkiller, a benzodiazepine sedative, and a muscle relaxant. I have run the gamut of many medications like you, almost all of which I could not tolerate. I take my tramadol in the day for pain, my clonazepam for my panic and anxiety disorders, 4 mg a day, throughout the day, and tizanidine, a muscle relaxant, at bedtime. I do not take the muscle relaxant during the day as it makes me very weak and tired, and it is very dangerous with caffeine. So the muscle relaxant acts as a sleep aid as well as something to relax me and ease my pain from the fibro. To answer your question, yes. In my opinion, Valium, which I used to take, also a benzo, it is a pretty effective muscle relaxant, for me anyway.
That's not what it is prescribed for but it is a beneficial side effect for me personally with my fibro. However, I have been taking benzodiazepines for 13 years. They are sedatives so they will make you tired. If you are new to benzos, they may have a strong drowsy effect on you. I find that if I am active after I take my clonazepam, I am just fine. Sometimes, if I sit down after taking my clonazepam, I will indeed get drowsy and even fall asleep. But I know my meds very well having taken them for so long and have developed a routine that works very well for me. Best of luck and I hope some of this helps.
Related topics
cymbalta, valium, depression, headache, allergic reactions, anxiety, insomnia, muscle spasm, pain, restless legs syndrome, back pain, fibromyalgia, sleep disorders, generalized anxiety disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome (cfs), duloxetine, gabapentin, methocarbamol, trazodone, chronic pain, side effect, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, muscle, muscle relaxer
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