Muscle relaxant medication.

tim60

Hi, as a newbie on the board first of all I´d like to say "Hello" to
everyone and hope you´re keeping well.

I have had AS for 20 years now, mainly affecting the neck and shoulders. I´d appreciate any advice anyone can offer on how to relieve the constant muscular tension and pain in these areas. My GP (In Spain) has been prescribing Tetrazepam for last 5 years to ease the problem (along with an NSAID). This is a benzodiazepine drug and over the last couple of years though the side effects have really started to show.

At the moment the best alternative on offer involves changing to a different but basically similar type drug. Since the side effects are as bad as the AS I´m really anxious to find an alternative. I´d be really interested how people cope with this aspect of rheumatism.

Many thanks

Poppyg1rl

Hi Tim,
Welcome to the forum, there is a wealth of knowledge, kindness and support to be found here!
I suffer from PA so cannot really help with your question, but we have many AS sufferers here and I'm sure someone far more knowledgeable than I am will becalming soon to help you.
Just wanted to welcome you and hope to see you posting again soon.
Hugs x

barbara12

Hi Tim
I have already welcomed you....I'm not sure about muscle relaxants, I have OA of the spine and hips, at the moment I am taking gabapentin, its a epilepsy drugs, and works by blocking pain signals to the brain, it has been such a big help...especially with the sciatica, I also take my pain meds cocodamols, at night I have amitriptyline, this really does give you a good sleep.
Sorry if Im not being much help, but hopefully more people will be along later.

dreamdaisy

Side effects are not guaranteed. Just because you have had them on one type of drug does not necessarily mean that another version of it will cause the same. One of the major problems we all face is that we react so differently to the same meds - what is an absolute blessing for one is a long-lasting trip to hell for another. You won't know what will happen until you try the meds - and sometimes the side-effects are the trade-off for even just a little benefit.

I am on a lovely cocktail of medical dross and have some upsetting side effects: ghastly oral thrush, continuous tinnitus and a general, ongoing feeling of yuk. None of those hurt so I can cope with them. As for the arthritis, well that continues to do what it will, when it will, regardless of the meds. I do know that I would be far worse off if I didn't take them but there are times when I just want to stop the lot and to hell with the consequences. I wish you well. DD

elnafinn

Hi again Tim

I am prescribed amitriptyline for another diagnosis other than arthritis (I have Osteo Arthritis) and this med slows the body down and makes me sleep better too. This drug is prescribed to many arthritis sufferers on here to ease sleepless nights and it also can help with IBSD, migraines and also depression if taken in much larger daily dosages.

I started on 10mg and now take 25mg every night which suits me fine. One of the side effects can be a dry mouth. Quite a few of us on the forum take this med around 19.00 - 20.00 hours so that we do not wake feeling whoosy the next morning.

Elna x

tim60

Thanks you all for the replies which were very helpful. It sounds like there is an alternative class of drug than to the ones that I´m currently being described. I´ll take this up with my GP and hopefully he´ll change my meds from the benzos.

Tim

dreamdaisy

Let us know how you get on - I hope you find something that suits you better and that it really helps. I wish you well. DD

suzygirl

Hi, have been absent from the forum for a few days, so have only just seen this.

I take Robaxin also known as Methocarbamol for my neck muscles as they go into spasm and its really painful. I find these heat, and a concotion of various painkillers which include gabapentin and amitryptyline at night, do really help.

I hope you are able to find an alternative. I know there is also a med called baclofen, which is also used.

caterina57

Hi and welcome
I have suffered some very painful muscle spasms in my back and neck due to spondylosis, I have Amitryptiline for sleep but when the spasms are bad have Diazepam as it is a very good muscle relaxant.
Cath

sunnyhours

No, Amitrityline isn't a muscle relaxant, it's a tricyclic antidepressant, and the only thing it's really known for are inducing sleep and, taken daily, reduce the frequency of migraine headaches. Diazepam (Valium) is also a benzodiazepine but it is used as a muscle relaxant more often than any other benzo. Soma and methocarbamol are good muscle relaxants that will most likely make you very drowsy, but they could be a good alternative to the benzos if you really don't tolerate them well.

constable

Hi Tim,

I suffer with OA so cant help, just wanted to welcome you to the forum. I know if I take diazipam sometimes that will help with sleep, but I dont all the time because I am already on anti-depressants for the depression side. Again, just wanted to welcome you into the forum family, you must go to chit chat and pop into vals cafe where you can have a virtual drink and a general chat with everyone, that always brighten my day for me. Look forward to seeing you round the forum.

Karen xx

frogmorton

Hi Tim

Welcome to the forum from me

I take amitriptyline for my aches at night at 25mg.

When l had to have back surgery l had diazepam for a bit too, but glad that was not permanent.

Hope you find us helpful and come back again - sounds like you have a lot to offer us lot too.

Love

toni xx