How Do You React to Muscle Relaxers?

I was prescribed Valium once for a back spasm. Let me just say that if there were a way I could take Valium every day for the rest of my life, I would totally do it. ;) I thought it was the greatest stuff ever. I have never been more relaxed and happy in my entire adult life. But yeah, I might not want to take it if I were the only responsible adult in the house, with kids too young to fend for themselves. In that case, maybe just some Ibuprofen (800mg dose works best for anti-inflammatory).

I do not use a muscle relaxer (ie Robaxin, Valium) for this type of pain, but instead an anti-inflmatory such as Naproxin or Advil. If you can, get in to a chiropractor, massage therapist or physio.

Of the answers below, only Robaxin (methocarbamol) is a true muscle relaxant, and Valium (diazepine) is actually an anti-anxiety medication that has muscle relaxant properties. Tylenol, Pamprin, Midol, Aleve, etc. are all either pain relievers (analgesic) or NSAID (anti-inflammatory). Another muscle relaxant typically prescribed is Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine).

Almost universally, muscle relaxants will have a sedative effect. I personally have a very high tolerance for medications, and I find I need to take them in the evening before bed, or plan on just napping within 2 hours of taking it. You CANNOT drive, or allow yourself to be responsible for young children without other supervision, until you have taken them & know how you will respond.

Home therapy for pulled muscles usually includes rest & heat & gentle massage. If you don't have one of the neck pillows that can be microwaved, you can go to the store (Target, Walmart) & get one. I personally have a dual purpose - can be frozen, or microwaved, & velcroes in place to apply heat. Taking ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen sodium (Aleve) will help with the inflammation from the injury, & help things to "calm down".

I would personally advise the home therapies, vs. the muscle relaxant, esp. if it was not prescribed for you personally. Best of luck in feeling better!!

The first thing to do with a muscle pull is to apply ice! Not heat! Reduce the inflammation as much and as quickly as you can. After 24-48 hours, you can start with heat. That's what all the massage therapists and athletic trainers recommend. Applying heat feels good but it's the exact opposite of what you should do. (Think of all those pro athletes in the ice baths after a game or injury! They're not sitting in saunas and steam baths, and there's a reason for it!)

The immediate need is anti-inflammation. So if you have an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory (ibuprofen, for example, either generic or a more expensive brand name like Motrin), take that. You need to get some help - friends, family, sitter - because failing to rest will increase the inflammation and probably cause further damage to delay healing.

I'd be really reluctant to take someone else's prescription - you don't know how you will react, and you don't really know if it's a wise choice for what your injury is. If you have a tear, you're not going to help it with medication that masks the true nature of the injury. You either need to rest or be seen, not just take a pill to cover up the problem. If you're worried about your 3 young kids and you note being able to sit down, the last thing you should do is take a prescription that's been sitting around. The only thing that should be sitting around is YOU! Really!

If it isn't your prescription, or one that you've been prescribed in the past, then you shouldn't take it. I know it is Sunday, but you need to at least try to get a call in to your doctor.

Well, you have a choice. Take care of yourself and get well OR keep using the arm and possibly tear the muscle or make the injury worse where you might even have to have medical intervention.

You have friends right? Family? When mom gets hurt mom needs someone to help. That's not a sign of weakness, it's a sign that you want to be well enough to take care of your family in the future.

Take the muscle relaxant and put some heat on it. Make a rice bag and heat it for a minute then put it on your injured area for a while then take it off for a while.

Also, ice might make it feel better too. You'll have to decide which feels better overall. I like ice 90% of the time. Ice reduces inflammation and eases the pain. If it's all angry inside the ice will make it feel a lot better. If it's spasms and just clenched up then the heat will help it relax.

I take them - and have to take them when I go to bed, otherwise I am drowsy. Even 1/2 pill will knock me out. Mine are prescription.

Everyone reacts differently to them. My brother in law will take a full pill of what I take and be fine.

If at all in doubt, start with a 1/2 pill.

Good luck :) Pulled muscles are so painful!

** I use magic bags or hot compresses (I have heated pad) on my neck - I find these very helpful. Also, gently stretching your neck - keep neck straight and chin in, and just very gently, very slowly look right and left. Don't go to the point where you hurt it more - just to gently stretch. Then look down (chin to chest) as far as you can go without hurting.

I wouldn't take a chance. I would however take 600 milligrams of ibuprofen (Motrin). Also Google physical therapy exercises or stretches for neck pain.

I pulled a muscle in my lower back. I googled lower back yoga exercises and found a couple of great stretches. After a week I was cured after suffering for months.

Feel better.

i've taken flexeril and while it does make me relax, I also become VERY drowsy and worse.......... If I take a whole pill (normally, I have cut it in half) oh my, the next day I feel hungover and I am usually in a bad mood... I try to stay away from those things unless I absolutely need one... and again, I will take 1/2 the dose...

I have taken a prescription muscle relaxer after other therapis didn't help. The doctor has me start with a low dose, gradually increasing it until I was at a higher dose. I was sleepy but still able to function as I needed to the first couple of days. By the time I increased the dose to the next level I felt no side effects. It's gabapentin.

This med also helps to reduce pain. My brother and a friend also had success with it. My brother continued to work at VA hospital in the meds distribution section.

You could try your husbands med. If you continue to be sleepy after a few days you can stop it. You may only need the muscle relaxant a few days anyway. Years ago, I often had pain in my neck because of whiplash injuri3s. I don't remember it's name. I was able to continue work as a police officer with no difficulty.

Could you think of taking this short term and if it makes you groggy consider resting a couple of days as you would with any illness. For me my muscle tension would last for a week or more without the muscle relaxant.

So sorry you are in pain. You're right, we all react differently to meds. I unfortunately get drowsy even with 2 Tylenol or Motrin! I usually have to go with a heating pad or ice pack for relief. If it's really bad, I'll take Tylenol or Motrin, with drowsiness effects.

I was on muscle relaxers when I was younger after a snowboarding accident and slept the entire winter break. I didnt even know Christmas happened!! After a car accident and with 2 little kids there was not way I could do that so doc gave me a steroid. Made me sweat buckets. ugh there is always something. Keep stretching and I'd just go the ibuprofen route.

Muscle relaxers make me sleep for a whole day.

Only take it before bed...that is what I would do. It'll make you relaxed and very sleepy. Sorry. Take an ibuprofen now but I'd wait till before bedtime to take a muscle relaxer unless you have someone else around to watch kids.

ETA: why bother asking us if your hubby knows all of the rules per RX? Just do what your hubby tells you to do!

Example... I'm in the plastics industry and hubby knows formulations and how to run raw materials through the processor. Why would I pose a question to the internet public if I had a source next to me with concrete answers and details?
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I would not take any RX that was not specifically written for me. You just never know.

I have used Aleve in the past and it has worked well. I am not one to take any meds unless it is absolutely necessary.

Also, for neck issues ( I get them fairly often if I sleep wrong, etc) I have a "Hot Tamale" which is basically a dressed up tube sock full of rice. Heat it for about a minute in the microwave and wrap around your neck. It is very hot at first but it holds heat for a good while. I have found those to be helpful for me in the past.

Good luck!

I pulled a muscle in my back once and was a in a lot of pain. I took ibuprofen for it during the day and still went in to work. I took the muscle relaxer before bed and it knocked me out, but allowed me to sleep without being in pain. I only took 3, by the third day my back was well enough to return to my regular activities (sports). I do think that the muscle relaxer helped speed my recovery. Did you possibly pinch a nerve in your neck? That's the worst and just takes time, I've done that and am usually better within a few days. I have friends who swear by their chiropractor for that.

Generally the only muscle relaxer I might have on hand is something like Pamprin or Midol.
My husband will take one if he has a back spasm.
Neither he nor I have ever been made drowsy by them.
For a tight neck muscle, rub in some Aspercream and apply wet heat (damp washcloth next to your skin with a heating pad over it).

If the prescription is not for you, don't take it.
Also, how old is it?
If it is for you, look up what it does or call your pharmacist for info about it.

I have a friend with several fused vertebra who is fine most of the time but every few years he has a muscle spasm that lands him flat on his back for a solid week.
His go to prescription for it would knock out most full grown elephants.
Be very careful with that stuff!

I pulled a muscle in my back a couple of weeks ago and could barely move without pain. The doctor prescribed Flexeril, up to three pills a day as needed. I didn't feel drowsy at all. In fact, I'm not really sure it even helped. I took it for about three days, dropping a pill each day. I may be the exception to the rule, as I have a very high tolerance for medication. I have to take 800 mg of ibuprofen to even make a dent in the headaches I get. I think the ibuprofen helped more than the muscle relaxer.

Just don't drive. You'll be fine at home. It will wear off after a few hours.

Make it a quiet day - and order in some pizza whatever you choose!!

Feel better!

As you've stated you've injured your neck muscle, I suggest ice and ibuprofen.

If you were having muscle spasms, I'd suggest heat and a muscle relaxer instead.

unfortunately i'm with you. a muscle relaxer will do wonders for the pain of a strained muscle, but unless i have the leisure to be a zombie for 48 hours afterwards, i just can't cope with it. the only time i can take a muscle relaxer is if the injury is severe enough that i'm in bed for a couple of days.
so for us, tylenol and hot baths are the only recourse if we need to function.
khairete
S.

Muscle relaxers make me groggy, but I always have work to do, so I take them with coffee and just make myself keep going.