Most people don’t think twice about filling a prescription for a muscle relaxer. After all, it’s a common medication after an injury, a tough workout, or a chronic pain condition. What many people don’t realize though, is that while muscle relaxers can help you feel better, they can also change the way your brain and body respond to stress and discomfort.

The line between helpful and harmful can quickly get blurry, often without someone noticing until they’re in too deep. If you’ve ever wondered, “Are muscle relaxers addictive?” the answer is yes,  and understanding the warning signs can make all the difference in catching a problem early.

In this article, we’ll go through:

Whether you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, you’re not alone. At Alamo Behavioral Health, we understand how difficult it can be to recognize a problem and reach out for help. To make that first step easier, our team is here to answer your questions, listen without judgment, and connect you to the support you need.

What Are Muscle Relaxers?

Muscle relaxers are prescription medications that help relieve muscle spasms, stiffness, or discomfort. Most don’t treat the muscles directly. Instead, they work by acting on the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) to slow down nerve signals. Thai is why they tend to make people feel sleepy on top of their other effects.

These drugs are usually prescribed to treat:

• Tightness from a spinal cord injury
• Back and neck pain
• Muscle injuries after accidents
• Nerve-related conditions like multiple sclerosis
• Ongoing pain from fibromyalgia or stress

Muscle relaxers are usually meant to be taken for just a few days or weeks. When they’re used longer than that, the risk of experiencing side effects goes up.

Commonly Prescribed Muscle Relaxants

There are many kinds of muscle relaxers. Some are considered safer than others, but all of them should be used with caution and under a doctor’s care. Below are a few of the most common types:

• Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril): Cyclobenzaprine is often prescribed for short-term relief after muscle strains or back pain. It helps calm muscle spasms by relaxing nerve signals, but over time, the body can start to get used to it, making it less effective and easier to overuse.
• Tizanidine (Zanaflex): Tizanidine is used to treat tight, spastic muscles, which are usually the result of nerve damage or a chronic condition. Since it wears off quickly, people sometimes take more than they should, which can lead to side effects like dizziness or low blood pressure.
• Baclofen: Baclofen is commonly used for long-term muscle stiffness tied to conditions like multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injuries. If it’s stopped too suddenly, it can cause intense withdrawal symptoms, and sometimes even hallucinations or seizures.
• Metaxalone: Metaxalone is one of the lighter muscle relaxers and doesn’t usually cause heavy sedation. However, it still affects the nervous system, and mixing it with other medications or alcohol can make you feel groggy or off-balance.
• Carisoprodol (Soma): Carisoprodol kicks in fast and can make you feel calm or even a little high, which is why it’s a controlled substance. It’s one of the muscle relaxers most likely to be misused, especially if it’s taken for too long or mixed with other drugs.
• Methocarbamol: Methocarbamol is often seen as a safer option because it doesn’t create a high, but it can still slow you down or make you feel a bit foggy. It’s best used short-term and shouldn’t be combined with other medications that affect the brain or nervous system.

Even though these medications are legal and widely used, they all affect how your brain works, which means they need to be handled carefully to avoid muscle relaxer addiction.

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Are Muscle Relaxers Addictive?

Some muscle relaxers, especially carisoprodol, can be addictive if they’re used for too long, taken in large amounts, or not used as prescribed. Even medications that aren’t considered high-risk can lead to issues when they’re used without a doctor’s supervision. This is particularly true if they’re combined with alcohol, opioids, or other sedating drugs.

Physical dependence can slowly sneak in, especially when someone starts relying on the medication to sleep, relax, or get through the day. At first, it might seem like the medicine isn’t working as well, but that’s often because the body is building tolerance, which means it takes more of the drug to feel the same effects. Before you know it, your body can grow used to it, and going without it can feel difficult or even impossible.

That change in the body is typically subtle, and by the time someone realizes they’re addicted, the medication may already be affecting their mood, sleep, or ability to concentrate. In some cases, withdrawal symptoms like irritability, restlessness, or muscle pain can show up when the drug is stopped, making it even harder to quit without addiction treatment.

Signs of Muscle Relaxer Addiction

It isn’t always obvious when muscle relaxer use has become a concern. Here are some signs to watch for:

• Running out of medication early or asking for refills too soon
• Hiding or lying about how much you’re using
• Feeling anxious, shaky, or uncomfortable when you’re not taking them
• Taking higher doses than prescribed
• Using them to fall asleep, calm down, or cope with life’s stressors
• Mixing them with alcohol or other drugs

Even if someone starts out following their doctor’s directions, misuse can still happen as time goes on. If you notice any of the signs above in yourself or a loved one, it could be time to speak to a medical professional.

Recover from Addiction the Right Way

At Alamo Behavioral Health, we know that muscle relaxer addiction can feel complicated, especially when it’s a prescription drug that once brought you relief. Whether you’re worried about dependence or you’re already seeing the signs of an addiction, we’re here to help you turn things around. With an evidence-based treatment plan and the right team around you, recovery is entirely possible. Contact us at any time to learn more about our programs, verify your insurance coverage, or schedule an intake appointment.

Resources:

1. National Institute of Health (NIH): Muscle Relaxants
2. JAMA Network: Long-Term Use of Muscle Relaxant Medications for Chronic Pain
3. NIH: Long-Term Use of Muscle Relaxant Medications for Chronic Pain