Arthritis Treatment Muscle Relaxers Prescribed for Arthritis By Carol Eustice facebook Carol Eustice is a writer covering arthritis and chronic illness, who herself has been diagnosed with both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Learn about our editorial process Carol Eustice Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Scott Zashin, MD on April 05, 2020 linkedin Scott J. Zashin, MD, specializes in the treatment of rheumatologic and musculoskeletal conditions using both traditional and alternative therapies. Learn about our Medical Review Board Scott Zashin, MD on April 05, 2020 Print When are muscle relaxers appropriately prescribed for arthritis patients? How do muscle relaxers work? Are muscle relaxers a short-term treatment or can they be part of a long-term maintenance regimen for arthritis patients to control aches and pains? UpperCut Images / Getty Images Short-Term Treatment vs. Long-Term Maintenance Muscle relaxers are often prescribed as a temporary treatment for patients who get muscular pain, typically affecting the spine. In some patients who have fibromyalgia, these drugs are used daily to help them with chronic muscle spasm or as a way to improve sleep. Some examples include: Robaxin (methocarbamol)Soma (carisoprodol)Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine)Skelaxin (metaxalone) Of these medications, Skelaxin is the least likely to cause drowsiness making it more compatible with day time use. Improve Sleep & Pain Relief Although not FDA approved for long term use, rheumatologists will often prescribe Flexeril nightly on a routine basis to increase stage 4 sleep so patients feel more refreshed in the morning. In addition to helping sleep in fibromyalgia patients, Flexeril is also felt to help with pain separate from the pain relief fibromyalgia patients get better sleep. The Central Nervous System While marketed as a muscle relaxant, Flexeril is similar in its mechanism of action to some of the tricyclic anti-depressants such as Elavil (amitriptyline). In fact, the muscle relaxants in general, are felt to exert their beneficial effects on the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), as opposed to a direct effect on skeletal muscle. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Dealing with chronic inflammation? An anti-inflammatory diet can help. Our free recipe guide shows you the best foods to fight inflammation. Get yours today! Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Answer provided by Scott J. Zashin, MD, clinical assistant professor at University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Division of Rheumatology, in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Zashin is also an attending physician at Presbyterian Hospitals of Dallas and Plano. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American College of Rheumatology and a member of the American Medical Association. Dr. Zashin is author of "Arthritis Without Pain - The Miracle Of Anti-TNF Blockers."