Archive for category Muscle Relaxant

Fibromyalgia Pain Medication – Targeting Pain and Other Symptoms

Jane Thompson asked:




Fibromyalgia is a condition that can make you feel like you’ve run a triathlon everyday but you didn’t train for it. Tiredness and pain co-exists with other parts of your body. Certain points feel fatigued and tender – even slight pressure can cause pain and you might even have trouble sleeping. But you don’t have to suffer in silence. There is a host of fibromyalgia pain medication that can provide relief from symptoms.

Fibromyalgia medications

The main purpose of fibromyalgia medication is to relieve pain, which is the distinguishing characteristic of this condition and the rest target specific symptoms such as muscle spasm and sleeplessness.

Some of the most common fibromyalgia medications that are prescribed are analgesics – both narcotic and non-narcotic. Non-narcotic are the only kind that are available over the counter with acetaminophens being the most commonly taken. Narcotic analgesics are only available on prescription, as there is the risk of becoming addicted to them so they need to be monitored. Pain relievers such as these reduce pain and ease joint and muscle stiffness.

Other fibromyalgia medications may also include NSAIDs or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These include ibuprofen, naproxen sodium and aspirin. They are usually taken with other medications. Newer fibromyalgia medications such as norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and serotonin may also be prescribed to help stop pain, depression and fatigue.

For patients who have trouble sleeping, anti-depressants may be taken to help the body relax. Drugs that contain amitriptyline, doxepin and nortriptyline are commonly used.

While they do not directly target pain, anti-depressants are considered the most useful drugs for the treatment of fibromyalgia. However, there are a number of side effects that can arise from taking anti-depressants, so you should tell your doctor if you start experiencing anything abnormal.

Sometimes, short-term fibromyalgia medication may also be used by patients to treat severe or intermittent symptoms. Muscle relaxants, for example, are used to reduce incidence of spasms and minimize muscle pain. Drugs containing cyclobenzaprine are commonly taken. Anticonvulsants like pregabalin may also help some patients by decreasing pain and improving sleep.

To bring about restful sleep, sleeping pills may be used in conjunction with a prescribed fibromyalgia medication. They are quite an effective treatment, although they are only recommended for short-term use. Prescription pills like zolpidem may work initially, but the body may develop a resistance. Patients who have been using them for a while may no longer feel their effect and may even develop sleeping problems later on.

To a small group of people suffering severe joint and muscle pain, doctors might prescribe narcotic drugs. These come in stronger dosage and have been known to help a few, but there is no evidence that narcotic fibromyalgia medication can actually target chronic pain. Most doctors would avoid prescribing them to patients for long-term treatments because of the high possibility of developing chemical dependence.

For information on treating Fibromyalgia naturally, either alongside or without medication keep reading and sign up for the free newsletter below.

Fibromyalgia is a condition with a host of symptoms and there is no single cure for it yet. However, research has led to the improvement of diagnosis and treatment over the years and has even resulted to a good choice of fibromyalgia medications and supplemental drugs that can treat pain and other symptoms. There are a number of studies and research underway that are looking at new fibromyalgia pain medications which will hopefully provide safe and effective relief.

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A Sneak Peek into Fibromyalgia

Rajeshkr Kumar asked:




Though not fatal, Fibromyalgia can affect every aspect of one’s life. It can severely curtail the recreation and social activity. Medical report shows around 30% of the Fibromyalgia are unable to maintain their job. The patients should know much about the syndromes, symptoms and treatments, so that they can fully participate in the long course of Fibromyalgia treatment.

Fibromyalgia Syndrome

Fibromyalgia is a debilitating chronic syndrome characterized by diffuse or specific muscle, joint, or bone pain, fatigue, and a wide range of other symptoms. People with Fibromyalgia may be genetically predisposed, but it is not contagious. Fibromyalgia syndrome is generally found in females; the male:female ratio of Fibromyalgia is 9:1. Of the general population 3% – 6% in the age group of 20 – 60 are affected by this syndrome. This figure of Fibromyalgia is a medical estimation, many cases go unreported or mistook for weakness, rheumatism or general fatigue. However, the disease is not life-threatening.

Fibromyalgia Symptoms

The primary symptom of Fibromyalgia is found in other disorders also. It is widespread and diffuse pain, often including needlelike tingling of the skin, ache in the muscles, weakness in the limbs, and pain in the nerves. Chronic sleep disturbances are also characteristic of Fibromyalgia. It is a condition in which deep sleep is frequently interrupted by bursts of brain activity similar to wakefulness. Fibromyalgia symptoms may also include chronic Paresthesia marked by physical fatigue, irritable bowel, interstitial cystitis, dermatological disorders, headaches, hypoglycemia and myoclonic twitches.

Fibromyalgia can start as a result of some trauma or illness, though there is no strong correlation between any specific trigger and the initiation of Fibromyalgia. Trauma or illness aggravates the mild Fibromyalgia. Besides pains, aches and fatigue there is no physical inflammation that is found in arthritis. Some external factors make the Fibromyalgia symptoms visible. Those are:

• Extreme cold weather
• Hunger, starvation or malnutrition
• Exhaustive physical activity
• Lack of deep sleep
• Increase of stress
• Consumption of alcohol

Fibromyalgia Treatment

Fibromyalgia treatment relies much on the proper case history of the patient, excluding the Fibromyalgia-like diseases like arthritis, endocrine disorders, theumatism, etc. Modern diagnosis of Fibromyalgia considers the following points before confirming Fibromyalgia syndrome.

• Chronic pain lasting more than three months in all four quadrants of the body.

• More pain in the 18 tender points. During diagnosis, four 40 Newtons of force is exerted at each of the 18 points; the patient must feel pain at 11 or more of these points for Fibromyalgia to be confirmed.

Complete cure of Fibromyalgia is unavailable, of course, there are treatment options to reduce the pain, and the treatment includes symptomatic prescription medication and alternative medicine. Experimentally Guaifenesin Protocol is prescribed to patients. It becoming more and popular day by day. To alleviate pain low doses of antidepressants like amitriptyline and trazodone are used to reduce the sleep disturbances associated with Fibromyalgia. Anti-depressants are also prescribed if depression is the major aggravator of the disease.

The drugs used in the treatment of Fibromyalgia include milnacipran, gabapentin, meloxicam and pregabalin. Muscle relaxants such as Cyclobenzaprine and Orphenadrine Citrate are also prescribed in Fibromyalgia.

Along with the Fibromyalgia medication, patients are advised to practice gentle exercises. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps patients relieve from chronic pain. EEG Biofeedback is gaining popularity in Fibromyalgia treatment.

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Skeletal Muscle Relaxants Uses, Efficacy, and Side Effects

Yury Bayarski asked:




Skeletal muscle relaxants are a heterogeneous group of medications. As a class, they are structurally and pharmacologically diverse. Muscle relaxants are used to treat two different types of underlying conditions:
spasticity from upper motor neuron syndromes muscular pain or spasms from peripheral musculoskeletal conditions

Although muscle relaxants have by convention been classified into one group, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved only a few medications in this class for treatment of spasticity. The remainder are approved for treatment of musculoskeletal conditions.

Drugs classified as skeletal muscle relaxants include:
baclofen (Lioresal) carisoprodol (Soma) chlorzoxazone (Paraflex) cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) dantrolene (Dantrium) metaxalone (Skelaxin) methocarbamol (Robaxin) orphenadrine (Norflex) tizanidine (Zanaflex)
Muscle relaxants for treatment of spasticity

Spasticity is a state of increased muscular tone with exaggeration of the tendon reflexes. Some of the more common conditions associated with spasticity and requiring treatment include multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, and poststroke syndrome. In many patients with these conditions, spasticity can be disabling and painful with a marked effect on functional ability and quality of life.

The upper motor neuron syndrome is a complex of signs and symptoms that can be associated with exaggerated cutaneous reflexes, autonomic hyperreflexia, dystonia, contractures, paresis, lack of dexterity, and fatigability. Spasticity from the upper motor neuron syndrome can result from a variety of conditions affecting the cortex or spinal cord.

Only baclofen, dantrolene, and tizanidine are approved for treatment of spasticity. There is fair evidence that baclofen and tizanidine are roughly equivalent for efficacy in patients with spasticity, but insufficient evidence to determine the efficacy of dantrolene compared to baclofen or tizanidine. Tizanidine is associated with more dry mouth and baclofen with more weakness.

Muscle relaxants for treatment of musculoskeletal conditions

Muscle spasm is defined as a sudden involuntary contraction of one or more muscle groups and is usually an acute condition associated with muscle strain (partial tear of a muscle) or sprain (partial or complete rupture of a ligament). Common musculoskeletal conditions causing tenderness and muscle spasms include fibromyalgia, tension headaches, myofascial pain syndrome, and mechanical low back pain or neck pain. If muscle spasm is present in these conditions, it is related to local factors involving the affected muscle groups.

The skeletal muscle relaxants carisoprodol, chlorzoxazone, cyclobenzaprine, metaxalone, methocarbamol, and orphenadrine are approved for treatment of musculoskeletal disorders.

Clinical studies show, that cyclobenzaprine, carisoprodol, orphenadrine, and tizanidine are effective compared to placebo in patients with musculoskeletal conditions (primarily acute back or neck pain). Cyclobenzaprine has been evaluated in the most clinical trials and has consistently been found to be effective.

Efficacy

Most studies have shown the skeletal muscle relaxants to be more effective than placebo in the treatment of acute painful musculoskeletal disorders and muscle spasm, while efficacy was less consistent when treating chronic disorders. When muscle relaxants were used alone, they were not consistently superior to simple analgesics in relieving pain. When the skeletal muscle relaxants were used in combination with analgesics, pain relief is superior to either agent used alone. Studies have suggested that these drugs are effective, have tolerable side effects, and can be an adjunct in the treatment of painful musculoskeletal conditions with associated muscle spasm.

No studies have documented superior efficacy of one skeletal muscle relaxant over another.

Side Effects and Adverse reactions
All skeletal muscle relaxants may cause sedation (drowsiness, dizziness). Baclofen may cause severe central nervous system depression with cardiovascular collapse and respiratory failure. Dantrolene has a potential for hepatotoxicity. Overt hepatitis has been most frequently observed between the third and twelfth months of therapy. Risk of hepatic injury appears to be greater in women, in patients over 35 years of age and in patients taking other medications in addition to dantrolene. Carisoprodol has some potential for dependence and withdrawal symptoms. Cyclobenzaprine, closely related to the tricyclic antidepressants, causes the expected lethargy and anticholinergic side effects, and may have some toxicity in overdose and in combination with other substances. Tizanidine may cause low blood pressure, but this may be controlled by starting with a low dose and increasing it gradually. The drug may rarely cause liver damage. Methocarbamol and chlorzoxazone may cause harmless color changes in urine – orange or reddish-purple with chlorzoxazone and purple, brown, or green with methocarbamol. The urine will return to its normal color when the patient stops taking the medicine.

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Muscle Relaxants For Low Back Pain

Yury Bayarski asked:




Muscle relaxants are one of the many treatments used in the management of low back pain. About thirty-five percent of patients visiting a physician for low back pain are prescribed skeletal muscle relaxers.

For acute low back pain, muscle relaxaers improve pain, muscle tension, and mobility more effectively than a placebo does. For chronic low back pain, they may relieve pain and lead to overall improvement. However, side effects are common.

The term “muscle relaxants” is very broad and includes a wide range of drugs with different indications and mechanisms of action. Muscle relaxants can be divided into two main categories: antispasmodic and antispasticity medications.

Antispasmodics are used to decrease muscle spasm associated with painful conditions such as back pain. Antispasmodics can be subclassified into benzodiazepines and nonbenzodiazepines. Benzodiazepines (e.g., alprazolam, diazepam, tetrazepam) are used as anxiolytics, sedatives, hypnotics, anticonvulsants, and skeletal muscle relaxants.

Non-benzodiazepines include a variety of drugs that can act at the brain stem or spinal cord level. The mechanisms of action with the central nervous system are still not completely understood.

Carisoprodol and metaxalone have moderate antispasmodic effects and are mildly sedative. Carisoprodol blocks interneuronal activity in the descending reticular formation and spinal cord. Carisoprodol is metabolized to meprobamate. Meprobamate was introduced as an antianxiety agent in 1955 and is prescribed primarily to treat anxiety, tension, and associated muscle spasms. Its onset and duration of action are similar to the intermediate-acting barbiturates. Excessive use can result in psychological and physical dependence.

Cyclobenzaprine is structurally similar to the tricyclic antidepressants; however, it has strong side effects such as sedation. It is currently believed that cyclobenzaprine acts in the brain stem rather than at the spinal cord level. Cyclobenzaprine has anticholinergic activity (which is responsible for some side effects such as dry mouth).

The use of muscle relaxants for low back pain continues to be a source of controversy among physicians, mainly because of their side effects. In addition to sedation, potential side effects include drowsiness, headache, blurred vision, nausea, and vomiting. Potential for abuse and dependency has also great drawback. Some guidelines recommend these medications alone or in combination with NSAIDs as optional, others clearly do not recommend using these drugs. Despite this controversy, 91% of doctors report using muscle relaxants even if they are conditionally discouraged by guidelines.

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Is Treating Fibromyalgia with Medication For You?

Jane Thompson asked:




Joining a fibromyalgia support group can be excellent psychological and emotional therapy. However, talking and sharing your experiences with others is not likely to take away any of the painful physical symptoms or fatigue you feel. Therefore, many fibromyalgia sufferers need to turn to alternative and medical remedies to find relief from their symptoms.

There are different over-the-counter (OTC) and prescribed medications that a fibromyalgia sufferer may find beneficial to their condition. That being said, not every person with fibromyalgia will have the same response to medical treatment, and may require different treatment to address their specific symptoms.
Although there are a number of medications that can be prescribed for specific symptoms, or those currently being used in clinical trials, the following are the most common medical treatments prescribed:
Analgesics – Analgesics are drugs designed to relieve bodily aches and pains and are also known as painkillers. OTC analgesics include acetaminophen and the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Although NSAIDs are primarily used to reduce inflammation and inflammation is not a symptom of fibromyalgia, they offer effective pain relief. The problem with using NSAIDs for pain relief is that prolonged use of this medication can irritate the stomach lining, lead to digestive upset and cause stomach ulcers.

Aside from OTC analgesics, doctors may prescribe opioid analgesics such as tramadol. Tramadol is a narcotic used to treat moderate to severe pain, and is typically used to treat surgical, arthritic and fibromyalgia pain. However, other stronger narcotics may be prescribed for sufferers with severe muscle pain.

The problem doctors have with prescribing narcotics is that although effective, there is a high risk that those who take them will become addicted and dependent on these drugs. Furthermore, narcotics can have many side effects including altering moods, behaviors and fatigue.

Antidepressants

Antidepressants are one of the most common medications prescribed for fibromyalgia sufferers. This is because antidepressants elevate the levels of specific brain chemicals such as norepinephrine and serotonin. Low levels of these and other brain chemicals can result in depression, pain and fatigue. By increasing chemical levels these symptoms can be improved.

Doctors provide different types of antidepressants to fibromyalgia sufferers based on how they feel. For instance, tricyclic antidepressants are provided to fibromyalgia patients who suffer from insomnia, as these meds help restore sleep. In addition, tricyclic antidepressants can help painful muscles relax and stimulate endorphins (body’s natural painkillers). Different tricyclic antidepressants that may be prescribed include: amitriptyline, doxepin, cyclobenzaprine and nortriptyline.

Additional antidepressant that may be used to treat depression and other fibromyalgia syptoms are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These include – fluoxetine, sertraline and paroxetine.

Antidepressants can be habit forming and may cause side effects such as dry mouth, weight gain, anxiety, gastrointestinal upset, loss of libido, insomnia, and fatigue. Note: each antidepressant will have different side effects.

Benzodiazepines

Benzodiazepines are psychotropic drugs that have been known to help fibromyalgia sufferers relax tense and painful muscles, and with restless legs syndrome, and insomnia. Benzodiazepines have hypnotic and sedative effects, and like antidepressants, dependence and addiction can occur in some patients. Other side effects may include depression, memory impairment, slow motor skills, etc.

Benzodiazepines are usually prescribed to fibromyalgia sufferers who have not responded well to other treatments. Some Benzodiazepines meds prescribed include: diazepam, temazepman, clonazepam, and triazolam.

Despite what medication you may be interested in or your doctor may recommend, you need to make sure you ask your doctor important questions before taking any medication so you can receive the most effective treatment that is right for you.

6 important questions to ask your doctor

1. What are the medications you recommend for my specific symptoms?

2. What side effects can I expect and will this medication have negative interactions with other medications, foods or activities?

3. Should I continue taking medications even if I feel better?

4. What are the long-term effects this medication will have on my health?

5. Can I take any alternative therapies with this medication, or are there any alternative therapies I can try which might provide me with relief for my symptoms?

6. Are there any clinical trials I may be eligible for?

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