Muscle relaxants

Brand Name: Soma
Chemical Name: carisoprodol

Brand Name: Flexeril
Chemical Name: cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride

Brand Name: Valium
Chemical Name: diazepam

Brand Name: Skelaxin
Chemical Name: metaxalone

Brand Name: Robaxin
Chemical Name: methocarbamol

The muscle-relaxing effects of this class of medication are most likely the result of their ability to depress the central nervous system. They are also called sedatives.

Why It Is Used

Muscle relaxants can be helpful when severe muscle spasms follow the start of low back pain.

Diazepam (Valium) and carisoprodol (such as Soma) are not recommended for use by pregnant women, older adults, or people who have depression or a history of drug or alcohol addiction.

How Well It Works

For acute low back pain, muscle relaxants improve pain, muscle tension, and mobility more effectively than a placebo does.1 However, side effects are common.

For chronic low back pain, muscle relaxants may relieve pain and lead to overall improvement, but side effects are common.2

Side Effects

Possible side effects of muscle relaxants include:

* Drowsiness or dizziness.
* Possible addiction or dependence.
* Dry mouth.
* Urinary retention.

See Drug Reference for a full list of side effects. (Drug Reference is not available in all systems.)

Muscle relaxants should only be taken at bedtime and never before driving or operating machinery.

Use of muscle relaxants is restricted to short-term use to avoid addiction.

Brand Names, Synonyms

Carisoprodol Brand Names and Synonyms:
1. Apesan
2. Arusal
3. Atonalyt
4. Brianil
5. Calenfa
6. Caprodat
7. Carisol
8. Carisoma
9. Carisoprodate
10. Carisoprodatum
11. Carlsodol
12. Carlsoma
13. Carlsoprol
14. Carsodal
15. Carsodol
16. Coprobate
17. Diolene
18. Domarax
19. Flexal
20. Flexartal
21. Flexartel
22. Flibol E
23. Isobamate
24. Isomeprobamate
25. Isopropyl Meprobamate
26. Isoprotan
27. Isoprotane
28. Isoprothane
29. Izoprotan
30. Mediquil
31. Meprobamate
32. Meprocon
33. Mioartrina
34. Miolisodal
35. Miolisodol
36. Mioratrina
37. Mioril
38. Mioriodol
39. Nospasm
40. RELA
41. Relasom
42. Relax
43. Sanoma
44. Skutamil
45. Soma
46. Somadril
47. Somalgit
48. Somanil
49. Stialgin
50. Tonolyt Isopropyl Meprobamate

Brand Name Mixtures - Not Available

Chemical IUPAC Name - [2-methyl-2-(1-methylethylcarbamoyloxymethyl)pentyl]aminomethanoate