Muscle Relaxers: List of 12 Prescription Medications

Muscle relaxers are one of those “sounds simple, gets complicated fast” categories. You picture a cramped calf finally unclenching like a fist after a long day… and sometimes that’s the vibe. But in real life, “muscle relaxer” is a loose umbrella term for prescription meds that affect your nervous system (or the muscle itself) to reduce spasms, stiffness, or spasticity. Some are meant for short-term back or neck pain flare-ups. Others are used for neurological conditions that cause ongoing tightness.

Translation: these meds can be helpful, but they’re not “take one and do cartwheels” pills. Many cause drowsiness, dizziness, or slowed reaction timeso the most common side effect is basically “you may feel like a cozy sloth.” Cute in theory. Risky behind the wheel.

Muscle relaxers 101: spasm vs. spasticity

Clinicians often talk about two main buckets:

• Antispasmodics (acute muscle spasm): Often used for short-term painful muscle spasms from strains/sprains or acute back/neck pain, along with rest and physical therapy.
• Antispastics (spasticity): Used for muscle tightness related to nervous system conditions (for example, after spinal cord injury, stroke, or with multiple sclerosis).

Important note: some medications blur these categories, and “best choice” depends on your symptoms, health history, and what you need to be able to do during the day (operate heavy machinery vs. operate a remote controlboth noble tasks).

Do muscle relaxers work?

For acute low back pain and similar issues, evidence suggests muscle relaxers can help short-term pain compared with placeboespecially over about a couple of weeks. But the tradeoff is side effects, particularly sedation and dizziness, which can raise fall risk and limit daytime functioning. In many cases, clinicians combine them with non-drug strategies like heat, gentle movement, stretching, and physical therapy.

Big safety themes (read this before the list)

1) Drowsiness is not a personalityplan around it

Many skeletal muscle relaxants depress the central nervous system (CNS). People commonly report sleepiness, dizziness, or feeling “foggy.” That can affect driving, school/work performance, and coordination.

2) Mixing with alcohol or other sedatives can be dangerous

Combining a muscle relaxer with alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, or other sedating meds can compound drowsiness and breathing-related risks. Always tell your prescriber what you’re taking (including supplements).

3) Some have misuse or dependence risk

A few muscle relaxers are controlled substances or have known abuse potential. That doesn’t mean they’re “bad”it means they require extra caution, especially if there’s a personal history of substance use disorder.

4) These are usually “short-term helpers,” not forever meds

For common musculoskeletal strains, many muscle relaxers are intended as short-term add-ons while the underlying injury heals and rehab builds better movement patterns.

Quick comparison: 12 prescription muscle relaxers at a glance

The list: 12 prescription muscle relaxers (with plain-English notes)

1) Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril, Amrix)

One of the most commonly prescribed skeletal muscle relaxants for acute muscle spasm. It acts on the brain and nervous system to help muscles relax. People often notice drowsiness and dry mouth, and some feel groggy the next dayespecially if they’re sensitive to sedating meds. It’s typically used short-term alongside rest, gradual activity, and physical therapy.

2) Methocarbamol (Robaxin)

Methocarbamol is used for muscle spasm and discomfort and is frequently paired with non-drug strategies (heat, movement, rehab). The big practical issue: drowsiness and dizziness can show up, so many clinicians caution patients about driving and other activities requiring alertness until they know how it affects them.

3) Carisoprodol (Soma)

Carisoprodol is prescribed for acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions and is often described as a muscle relaxant that works through the CNS. It has a well-known reputation for misuse and dependence risk, and in the U.S. it’s treated as a controlled substance in many contexts. In practice, prescribers are cautious about duration and patient risk factors.

4) Metaxalone (Skelaxin)

Metaxalone is another option for muscle pain/spasm. Compared with some other agents, it’s sometimes perceived as “a bit less sedating” for certain peoplebut sedation can still happen, and labels emphasize caution with activities requiring alertness. If it works for you, it can be a useful short-term bridge while your body calms down and movement retraining begins.

5) Chlorzoxazone (Parafon Forte)

Chlorzoxazone is used to relieve discomfort linked with acute musculoskeletal conditions. Like most drugs in this group, it can cause drowsiness and dizziness. A good rule of thumb: treat the first doses like a “test run” when you don’t need peak coordination (no driving, no ladder-based hobbies, no juggling chainsawsobvious, but still).

6) Orphenadrine (Norflex)

Orphenadrine is used with rest and physical therapy for pain and discomfort due to strains, sprains, and similar muscle injuries. It can have anticholinergic-type side effects (think dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, or feeling “wired and tired”), so it may not be ideal for everyoneespecially older adults or people sensitive to those effects.

7) Tizanidine (Zanaflex)

Tizanidine is commonly used for spasticity (muscle tightness related to neurologic conditions). A standout caution is low blood pressure (which can cause lightheadedness or fainting), plus drowsiness and dry mouth. Clinicians often advise careful dose adjustments and extra caution if you already struggle with dizziness.

8) Baclofen (Lioresal, Gablofen)

Baclofen is widely used for spasticity, especially in conditions involving spinal cord pathways. People may notice sleepiness, weakness, and fatigue. Another key clinical point: sudden changes in baclofen therapy can be risky, so prescribers generally manage starts/stops carefully. If you’re using it long term, consistent follow-up matters.

9) Dantrolene (Dantrium)

Dantrolene is a bit different: it acts more directly on skeletal muscle contraction mechanisms. It’s used for spasticity, but it comes with a very important warningrisk of serious liver injury. That’s why clinicians screen for liver issues and monitor symptoms and labs when appropriate. It’s not a casual “try it and see” medication.

10) Diazepam (Valium)

Diazepam is a benzodiazepine used for multiple indications, including muscle spasms in certain situations. It can cause sedation, and it carries a recognized risk of dependence. It also has major warnings about combining benzodiazepines with opioids because of profound sedation and breathing risks. Many clinicians reserve it for specific cases rather than routine muscle spasm management.

11) OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) injection

For some people with focal spasticity (tightness in specific muscle groups), botulinum toxin injections can reduce overactivity and improve movement patterns when paired with rehabilitation. The prescribing information includes a boxed warning about distant spread of toxin effect, meaning effects can extend beyond the injection site in rare cases. It’s a specialized therapy typically delivered by trained clinicians as part of a broader rehab plan.

12) RimabotulinumtoxinB (Myobloc) injection

Another botulinum toxin formulation used for certain muscle conditions, rimabotulinumtoxinB also carries a boxed warning about potential distant spread of toxin effect. Like all botulinum toxin therapies, dosing and muscle selection are technicalthis is not “pick a muscle, hope for the best.” The goal is targeted relaxation to improve function and comfort without overly weakening key muscles.

How clinicians choose among muscle relaxers

Most real-world prescribing decisions come down to a few practical questions:

• What problem are we treating? Acute muscle spasm after a strain is different from long-term spasticity after a neurologic injury.
• How sedating can this be? Someone who must drive, work nights, or care for others may need a plan that minimizes daytime drowsiness.
• What’s the risk profile? History of falls, sleep apnea, liver disease, older age, or substance use disorder can change the risk/benefit equation.
• What else is the person taking? Interactions matterespecially with other CNS depressants.

Alternatives and add-ons that often matter just as much

If you’ve ever had a muscle spasm, you know you’d try interpretive dance in a heartbeat if it helped. The good news is many non-drug strategies are genuinely useful, and they tend to have fewer side effects than “accidental nap at 2 p.m.” Options often include:

• Heat or ice (depending on what feels better)
• Gentle movement and gradual return to activity
• Physical therapy and targeted strengthening
• Ergonomic changes (desk setup, lifting mechanics, sleep position)
• Short-term use of appropriate pain relievers when recommended by a clinician

of real-world experiences people commonly report

When people talk about muscle relaxers, the stories tend to sound less like “miracle cure” and more like “this helped me get through the rough patch.” A common experience is that the first dose feels subtleuntil you realize you’ve been staring at the same email for seven minutes and your brain has gently powered down like a laptop at 2% battery. That’s not a failure. It’s the medication doing what many of these drugs do: turning down nervous system “volume,” which can reduce spasm but also reduce alertness.

Another frequent theme is timing. People often discover that taking a sedating muscle relaxer when they have to be productive is… ambitious. Some report that evening dosing (when prescribed and appropriate) fits their lives better because it supports sleep and reduces the “next-day zombie” effect. Others find the opposite: they feel groggy in the morning and prefer a different medication, a lower dose, or a non-drug approach. The takeaway is that tolerability isn’t one-size-fits-all, and comfort mattersespecially if the medication is meant to help you move more, not less.

Many patients also describe a “window of opportunity” effect. The muscle relaxer helps enough that they can tolerate physical therapy, gentle stretching, or walkingthings that felt impossible when the spasm was at peak drama. In those cases, the medication isn’t the whole plan; it’s more like the bouncer who escorts the spasm out so rehab can do its job. This is often why clinicians pair muscle relaxers with movement-based treatment: the long-term win usually comes from restoring strength, flexibility, and confidence in motion.

People living with spasticity often describe a different experience. Instead of a brief flare-up, it’s more like a constant tug-of-war with tight muscles. For them, medications like baclofen or tizanidine can reduce stiffness and improve functionbut may also introduce fatigue or weakness. Finding the “sweet spot” can take time and careful follow-up. When botulinum toxin injections are used, patients often mention targeted improvements: a clenched hand that opens more easily, a foot that positions better for walking, or less pain from a constantly contracted muscle. The best reports usually come from combination plansmedication plus rehab plus goal-focused practice (walking, dressing, transferring, writing, sports, you name it).

Finally, a very human experience: frustration. Some people try one medication and don’t notice much besides sleepiness. Others find meaningful relief. That variation is normal and doesn’t mean anyone is “doing it wrong.” It just means muscle relaxers are toolssometimes the right tool, sometimes notand the best outcomes usually come from matching the tool to the job, using it safely, and building a broader plan that makes the next spasm less likely to crash your week.

Conclusion

Muscle relaxers can be helpful for short-term muscle spasms or longer-term spasticityespecially when they’re used thoughtfully, with attention to side effects, interactions, and functional goals. The “best” medication is the one that improves movement and comfort without creating bigger problems (like dangerous sedation, falls, or dependence). If you’re considering a muscle relaxer, talk with a licensed clinician about your symptoms, daily responsibilities, and other medications so you can choose a plan that’s both effective and realistic.