Cyclobenzaprine vs Tizanidine: Which is the Better Muscle Relaxer?
Though some addictions start on the street, many begin within the home with prescription medications. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies. A long-acting formulation of cyclobenzaprine has been introduced and is believed by some clinicians to have a lower side effect profile than the immediate-release formulation of this drug. Elderly patients seem to tolerate cyclobenzaprine less and may develop hallucinations as well as significant anticholinergic side effects, such as sedation.
During spasticity, “the muscles remain contracted and resist being stretched, thus affecting movement, speech and gait,” the American Association of Neurological Surgeons explains. The beads can contain a layer of organic acid or alkaline buffer to control a drug’s solubility by creating an optimal pH microenvironment. Alternatively, Diffucaps beads can contain a solid solution of drug and crystallization inhibitor to enhance bioavailability by maintaining the drug in its amorphous state. Other antispasmodic agents include carisoprodol, metaxalone, methocarbamol, orphenadrine, and chlorzoxazone (1).
- Robaxin contains methocarbamol and is usually dosed multiple times per day.
- Although some of the trials had treatment arms with other drugs, including diazepam,30-32,35,36 diflunisal (Dolobid),21 and methocarbamol,22 only cyclobenzaprine and placebo data from each trial were abstracted.
- Standardized mean differences in patient response to cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride compared with placebo on 5 different domains of back pain.
- Also, cyclobenzaprine can cause dry mouth because it has anticholinergic effects.
Most healthcare professionals agree that muscle relaxants are overprescribed, especially since the risks and adverse effects outweigh the benefits in some cases (1). Gablofen vs. Flexeril comparison reveals in detail the similarities and differences between the two popularly prescribed muscle relaxants. While Gablofen and Flexeril are muscle relaxants, the former is the best wikipedia flexeril choice for long-term use, while Flexeril is better for short-term use. Lioresal also will be the better option for the cases of multiple sclerosis, treating alcoholism and spinal cord issues. Lastly, they should also remember to stick to the prescription and if they notice any chance of an addiction, report it to their physician or medical health professional immediately.
Is Robaxin, Fexmid, or Amrix better?
However, no research suggests that long-term cyclobenzaprine use is safe or effective. Based on each medication’s dosage schedules, tizanidine could be slightly stronger over time. Treatment on either medicine starts with a small dose that is gradually increased under a doctor or pharmacist’s direction. Tizanidine and Flexeril are both muscle relaxers that can be used with a physical therapy program. If your doctor has presented these options to you, you may be considering which one is right for you and wondering how they compare. Read on to find out what each drug does so that you are informed when you speak with your doctor about the best medication to take.
Be aware of contraindications and drug interactions when taking these medications. The most common adverse effects of cyclobenzaprine are drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness, and confusion (8). Additional potential side effects of this drug include fatigue, headache, nervousness, dilated pupils, hallucinations, increased heart rate, and digestion issues (1, 8). The research regarding the efficacy of baclofen for the treatment of common musculoskeletal conditions, such as back pain, is limited (2, 4).
Drug interactions of Robaxin vs. Flexeril
But, Flexeril may also cause more adverse effects like drowsiness and dry mouth. Discuss these treatment options with a doctor to find the best medication for you. Flexeril is one of the most studied muscle relaxants; thus, it has more supporting evidence for its effectiveness. In a systematic review, it was found that, in general, muscle relaxants are comparable in effectiveness. This review included other muscle relaxants such as metaxalone, baclofen, tizanidine, orphenadrine, and chlorzoxazone. Robaxin and Flexeril are effective treatments for treating musculoskeletal pain and muscle spasms.
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Intrathecal baclofen is generally considered if a patient demonstrates adverse effects or no response to oral delivery (2). Antispasmodic and antispastic drugs aren’t interchangeable for muscle pain treatment, although a handful of drugs (such as tizanidine and diazepam) can exhibit both antispastic and antispasmodic properties (1). A sensitivity analysis was also performed to assess the effects of study quality, year of publication, duration of treatment, type of back pain, and whether Merck, Sharpe and Dohme sponsored the study. We also explored the effect of dropping individual studies from our meta-analysis, also without significant effect on our summary OR. Thirteen articles18,21,24,25,30-37 reported a global measure of symptom improvement. While articles reported this outcome at various time points, only global improvement at the end of the trials was present in a sufficient number of studies to be considered reliable enough for this analysis.
Gablofen is a better option for spasticity and spinal cord diseases, while Robaxin is used mainly for muscle spasm issues. Both Flexeril vs. Baclofen can have minor, moderate, or major interactions, leading to extreme side effects or even death. Notably, a case from 2016, where a 24-year-old male who was addicted to smoking was prescribed the drug as part of his addiction treatment and given a low dose prescription of Baclofen. Since both of these drugs, cyclobenzaprine vs. Baclofen, can affect how the patient’s muscles work, it is assumed that they’re strong enough to cause addictions on their own. Flexeril doesn’t have a lot of potential for misuse when taken on its own since it doesn’t provide the user with any psychoactive effects.
Drugs that have CNS depressant effects include barbiturates and benzodiazepines. Robaxin, known by its generic name methocarbamol, was released on the market in the 1960s. While its exact mechanism of action is unknown, Robaxin (learn about Robaxin) is believed to relieve discomfort through its sedative effects. Generic methocarbamol is around $6.25 for 30 tablets of the 500mg dose with a BuzzRx drug discount card.
Additionally, if you’re pregnant or nursing, you should use baclofen only if the perceived benefits of the drug outweigh the risks to the fetus or infant (2). Don’t opt for an excessively long treatment duration with baclofen, as you might find yourself dealing with life-threatening withdrawal symptoms as you try to wind down the treatment. Cyclobenzaprine functions as a depressant and sedative agent for the central nervous system, specifically acting on the spinal cord and reducing muscle hyperactivity (8). Muscles are innervated (stimulated to action) by nerves from the spinal cord, and cyclobenzaprine dulls the signals sent out by these nerves.