Arthritis Treatment Muscle Relaxers Prescribed for Arthritis By Carol Eustice 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 Updated on April 10, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Riteesha G. Reddy, MD Medically reviewed by Riteesha G. Reddy, MD Riteesha G. Reddy, MD, is a board-certified rheumatologist and internist at a private practice in Dallas, Texas. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Fact checked Verywell Health content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Angela Underwood Fact checked by Angela Underwood LinkedIn Angela Underwood's extensive local, state, and federal healthcare and environmental news coverage includes 911 first-responder compensation policy to the Ciba-Geigy water contamination case in Toms River, NJ. Her additional health-related coverage includes death and dying, skin care, and autism spectrum disorder. Learn about our editorial process Print Arthritis and other rheumatological conditions generally involve joint pain. But sometimes, prescription muscle relaxers can help with symptom relief. In some cases, they can help you get over a short-term problem. Other times, they may be needed long-term. This article looks at how muscle relaxers are used in arthritis-related conditions, the symptoms they may alleviate, and how they work. UpperCut Images / Getty Images Why Muscle Relaxers? Muscle relaxers are often prescribed as a temporary treatment for muscle pain, especially along the spine. This may be due to an arthritis flare or an injury that makes your arthritis pain worse. Some rheumatological conditions cause muscle spasms. This is especially the case in the chronic pain condition fibromyalgia. In rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, joint damage or inflammation may affect muscles and cause pain, as well. Although not FDA approved for long term use, rheumatologists routinely prescribe Flexeril for nightly use to increase stage 4 sleep. That can help you feel more refreshed in the morning. Common Muscle Relaxers Some common muscle relaxers are: Robaxin (methocarbamol) Soma (carisoprodol) Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) Skelaxin (metaxalone) These medications can cause drowsiness. Skelaxin is the least likely to make you tired, so it may be a good choice for daytime use. While Flexeril is marketed as a muscle relaxant, its mechanism of action is similar to that of tricyclic anti-depressants like Elavil (amitriptyline). It may offer additional benefits to people with fibromyalgia, sleep problems, or co-existing depression. Muscle relaxants in general are thought to affect the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) rather than act directly on muscles. Summary Muscle relaxers are sometimes prescribed for people with arthritis or other rheumatological conditions. They may help with short-term pain or chronic problems with muscle pain or spasm. These drugs may also help you sleep better. Flexeril is similar to some anti-depressants and is a good choice for improving sleep. Skelaxin is the least likely one to make you tired. 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 7 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. Witenko C, Moorman-Li R, Motycka C, et al. Considerations for the appropriate use of skeletal muscle relaxants for the management of acute low back pain. P T. 2014;39(6):427-435. National Institutes of Health, U.S. Library of Medicine: ClinicalTrials.gov. Pilot study of cyclobenzaprine for treatment of sleep disturbance in aromatase inhibitor-treated breast cancer patients. Emrich OMD, Milachowski KA, Strohmeier M. [Methocarbamol in acute low back pain. A randomized double-blind controlled study]. MMW Fortschr Med. 2015;157 Suppl 5:9-16. doi: 10.1007/s15006-015-3307-x U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA AccessData. Soma (carisoprodol). Long-term use of cyclobenzaprine for pain: A review of the clinical effectiveness. Ottawa (ON): Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health; February 23, 2015. National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. Metaxalone. UpToDate. Pharmacologic management of chronic non-cancer pain in adults. Additional Reading 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."