|
Generic Name |
Brand name |
Dosage |
Side-effects |
Comments |
|
methocarbamol |
Robaxin, Robaxin-750, Robaxisal, (methocarbamol 400 plus aspirin 325) |
500 mg two tablets qid
or 750 mg one or two tid. Can
take 6 gm initially per day and then cut back to 4 gm per day for maintenance. Robaxisal may be taken two tablets qid |
Central nervous system
side-effects with drowsiness, dizziness, headache, blurred vision, light-headedness.
May also have some stomach upset with nausea.
May get skin rash or hives.
With Robaxisal may have side-effects from the aspirin component
with gastrointestinal upset or burning, also allergic reactions to aspirin |
Robaxin and Robaxisal represent
a milder muscle relaxant for minor musculoskeletal spasm or in patients
who are intolerant to stronger muscle relaxants |
|
tizanidine hydrochloride |
Zanaflex |
4 mg initially gradually
increasing to 8 mg tid if necessary |
Sedation, weakness, fatigue,
dry mouth and dizziness |
This is a medication used
for acute spastic conditions with the type of muscular problem that
might occur in a patient with multiple sclerosis for example |
|
carisoprodol |
Soma |
Soma Compound (carisoprodol 200 mg plus aspirin 325 mg) The dosage is one or two tabs qid. Soma Compound with codeine (carisoprodol 200 mg plus aspirin 325 mg plus
codeine phosphate 16 mg). The
dosage is one or two qid |
May have central nervous
system side-effects including dizziness, sedation, irritability, depression,
headache, allergic reactions with skin rash, nausea, vomiting, rapid
heart rate. With Soma Compound
may also additionally have side-effects related to the aspirin with
gastrointestinal burning and pain with allergic reactions to aspirin
in individuals who are sensitive to it.
Soma Compound with codeine may have additional sensitivity to
codeine with constipation due to decreased bowel motility or nausea
and vomiting and dizziness from the codeine |
Soma is a moderately strong
muscle relaxant. Some patients
may find it sedating enough that they may only be able to tolerate it
at bedtime |
|
cyclobenzaprine |
Flexeril |
10 mg up to qid |
Sedation, dry mouth, dizziness,
constipation, fatigue, headache, GI upset |
Flexeril is one of the
strongest muscle relaxants. It
has been shown to be beneficial in fibromyalgia, but many patients only
can tolerate it by taking it at bedtime, either a half or one tablet. Otherwise they are too sedated or their mouth
is too dry in the morning to continue taking it |
|
orphenadrine citrate |
Norflex Norgesic (orphenadrine
25 mg plus caffeine 30 mg plus aspirin 385 mg) Norgesic
Forte (orphenadrine 50 mg, caffeine 60 mg and aspirin 770 mg) |
Norflex one po bid Norgesic
one or two tablets tid or qid Norgesic Forte |
May include dryness of
the mouth with headaches and dizziness, nausea and vomiting, constipation.
With Norgesic and Norgesic Forte there may be side-effects from
aspirin with gastrointestinal upset or bleeding |
|
|
chlorzoxazone |
Parafon Forte DSC |
500 mg one tid or qid |
Dizziness, sedation, fatigue |
Parafon Forte is another
milder muscle relaxant not as strong as Soma or Flexeril, but also less
sedating, so some patients may be able to take it during the day time
without adverse effects |
|
diazepam |
Valium |
5 mg to 10 mg tid or qid |
Sedation, depression, dizziness |
Since patients may become
dependent on Valium with prolonged usage, this is best used in short-term
instances for very severe muscle spasm. The patient may subsequently be switched over to one of the milder
muscle relaxants |
|
lorazepam |
Ativan |
.5, 1 mg or 2 mg tabs with
usually 2 to 6 mg per day given in tid or qid type dosage |
Sedation, dizziness, weakness |
|
|
metaxalone |
Skelaxin |
400 mg one or two tid or
qid |
Sedation, dizziness, headache,
GI upset with nausea or vomiting |
This is a moderately strong
muscle relaxant somewhere in between Robaxin and Norflex at the milder
end and Flexeril and Valium at the stronger end |
|
clonazepam |
Klonopin |
0.25 mg up to 1 mg usually
given at night |
Sedation, depression, fatigue |
Although it has an indication
for the treatment of seizures and panic disorders, it is quite effective
in patients with restless legs syndrome when given at bedtime |