Abstract

Muscle relaxant drugs include cyclobenzaprine, carisoprodol, chlorzoxazone, methocarbamol, and others. Cyclobenzaprine is essentially identical to amitriptyline, with potential adverse effects similar to those of amitriptyline. In addition, carisoprodol has been removed from the European market because of concerns about drug abuse. Although these drugs may relieve skeletal muscle pain, their effects are nonspecific and not related to muscle relaxation. Therefore, they should not be prescribed in the mistaken belief that they relieve muscle spasm.