While muscle relaxants and other forms of medication often provide symptomatic relief, they are not a lasting solution to sciatica. At best, they only improve the pain associated with this condition, rather than permanently resolving the condition itself.
Muscle relaxers: When the underlying cause of your sciatica is muscle spasms, muscle relaxers such as carisoprodol and cyclobenzaprine can provide relief.
If the over-the-counter options don't help, your doctor might prescribe stronger muscle relaxants or anti-inflammatories. Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil) and anti-seizure medications sometimes work, too.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may help the pain caused by nerve inflammation. Over-the-counter muscle relaxers can also provide a certain degree of relief as well.
Recent studies have shown that a type of skeletal muscle relaxants (SMRs), called antispasmodics, outperform anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen and acetaminophen, in relieving severe pain associated with conditions like acute back pain.
Addiction, Overdose, and Death. These highly addictive muscle relaxers should never be prescribed for more than two-three weeks, preferably for shorter periods. The risk of addiction is so high with muscle relaxers that it outweighs any potential benefit, especially after a few weeks.
The Geriatric Lexi-Drugs database recommends the avoidance of muscle relaxants other than diazepam and tizanidine in patients older than age 65 years because efficacy and safety have not been established in geriatric patients.
While sciatica pain can be debilitating, chiropractic treatment can relieve it gently and naturally. This care entails treating the pain without costly and harmful side effects.
The main medicines recommended for neuropathic pain include: amitriptyline – also used for treatment of headaches and depression. duloxetine – also used for treatment of bladder problems and depression. pregabalin and gabapentin – also used to treat epilepsy, headaches or anxiety.
Some muscle relaxers start working within 30 minutes of taking them, and the effects can last anywhere from 4 to 6 hours.
Some people start to feel the effects within 30 minutes, but you should definitely feel the effects within an hour. The long-acting Amrix (cyclobenzaprine) capsules take a little longer to work but last for up to 24 hours. Most people start to feel the effects about a hour and a half after they take their dose.
Voltaren has an average rating of 7.7 out of 10 from a total of 9 ratings for the treatment of Sciatica. 56% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 0% reported a negative experience.
Sciatica most often occurs when a herniated disk or an overgrowth of bone puts pressure on part of the nerve. This causes inflammation, pain and often some numbness in the affected leg.
An acute episode may last between one and two weeks and usually resolves itself in a few weeks. It's fairly common to experience some numbness for a while after the pain has subsided. You may also have sciatic episodes a handful of times a year. Acute sciatica may eventually turn into chronic sciatica.
Inability to walk: All of the symptoms of sciatica can come together and make it difficult for you to walk. Putting pressure on your leg to stand can lead to extreme pain and the weakness of the leg could even lead to you falling.
Nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are one of the most frequently prescribed drugs for the treatment of sciatica.
Muscle relaxers work to alleviate muscle spasms and pain. Five of the most common muscle relaxers prescribed are carisoprodol, cyclobenzaprine, diazepam, metaxalone, and methocarbamol.
“Patients should not use muscle relaxers for more than two or three weeks, except if directed by their healthcare provider,” says Queen Buyalos, pharmacist and founder of ZLA Medical Writing. “Taking muscle relaxers longer than two or three weeks may increase the chances of falls, drug dependence, and abuse.
Taken as 800 mg tablets 3 to 4 times a day, metaxalone (Skelaxin) has the fewest reported side effects and lowest sedation potential of the muscle relaxants based on clinical studies. Simply put, it is the best-tolerated of the muscle relaxants.
But, while the pain is oh so real, it is usually not helpful to run to prescription medication like muscle relaxers. Despite the seeming “quick fix” of popping a pill, these drugs could actually prolong back pain and extend recovery time.
Muscle relaxers treat spasms by inhibiting nerve signals to the brain and spinal cord to stop the spasm-pain message going to the brain. When taking the medication, most people feel very relaxed and often drowsy or sleepy, which is why they are typically taken at night.
Side Effects Associated with Muscle Relaxers
Sleepiness or grogginess. Fatigue. Dry mouth. Constipation.