Muscle Relaxants

You may also consider muscle relaxants which help to loosen the muscles in the back and other areas of your body.  This provides you with the benefit of not feeling as much pain but your muscles are not working at their full potential either.  Here, you need to be very careful about doing anything when the effects of this medication are there. 

Muscle relaxants are often carisoprodol Soma, cyclobenzaprine and others.  Valium is one of the most commonly known types. 

Relaxants are mostly used for people that have muscle spasms, or sudden severe muscle reactions that subside in intensity after a short time period.  Remember too that this medication does not heal the condition, but only minimizes the pain caused by it.

Side effects of muscle relaxants include dry mouth, drowsiness and in some cases addition especially with Valium and carisoprodol.  You will need to only take them when you can be lying still for several hours, such as before bedtime.