People living with neck or back pain, or other conditions that result in muscle spasms, painful involuntary muscle contractions, may benefit from taking muscle relaxants.
Muscle relaxers are typically the second-line treatment if patients are unable to take ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol). This is either because they’re not effective in relieving the symptoms or because someone has liver damage or an ulcer.
Your clinician may also recommend similar medicines for muscle spasticity and musculoskeletal pain, an ailment caused by injuries or disorders that directly affect the skeletal muscles.
If you’ve been prescribed muscle relaxers by your healthcare providers, you may wonder about how they work and whether they come with serious side effects, like physical dependence and addiction.
Unfortunately, with prolonged use, some types of muscle relaxants do have the risk of abuse. Here’s everything you should know about prescription muscle relaxers and what to do if you or any of your loved ones start showing signs of substance use disorder (SUD).
Table of Contents
How Do Muscle Relaxants Work?
Muscle relaxants are prescription medications that primarily act as depressants that affect muscle function. There are two types of muscle relaxers: antispastics and antispasmodics.
These two classes serve different purposes and have distinct effects. As such, it’s not recommended to use them interchangeably, as a form of substitute, or simultaneously.
Antispasmodics work by inhibiting brain signals, causing a sedative effect. They’re also called centrally acting muscle skeletal relaxants (SMRs) and are commonly used alongside rest and physical therapy.
They mainly target smooth muscles, the muscles you don’t have control over, such as your blood vessels, intestines, and stomach.
Carisoprodol, commonly sold under the brand name Soma, is an antispasmodic prescription drug. Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), metaxalone, and chlorzoxazone belong to the same class of relaxants.
Antispastics, on the other hand, affect the spinal cord, central nervous system (CNS), and other skeletal muscles. These are the muscles responsible for movement.
Valium (diazepam), a type of benzodiazepine, is classified as an antispastic, typically prescribed for muscle pain and spasms from inflammation, trauma, and spasticity.
Some antispastic medications are also used to treat patients with spinal cord injuries and cerebral palsy, as well as autoimmune illnesses like multiple sclerosis (baclofen, tizanidine, and dantrolene).
Side Effects of Muscle Relaxers
Regardless of type, muscle relaxants typically have a range of temporary and lasting side effects. So, before taking them, ensure your physician knows if you have any of the following conditions:
- Kidney disease
- Liver disease
- Asthma or other breathing disorders
- Mental health
- Sleep apnea
- Allergies
- Pregnant (or trying to be)
- Breastfeeding infant
- Suicidal ideation
- Substance use disorders
Common side effects from taking muscle relaxers can include:
- Drowsiness
- Fatigue
- Sedation
- Muscle weakness
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Dry mouth
- Irritability
- Confusion
- Depression
- An upset stomach
- Low blood pressure
Avoid taking muscle relaxants with other substances like alcohol. Regardless of whether taken in low or higher doses, muscle relaxers slow down the brain, making it harder to think, which can increase the risk of accidents.
Some brands take effect in about 30 minutes and could last for several hours.
Are Muscle Relaxants Addictive?
Some muscle relaxants are controlled substances. That means they have the potential for dependence and addiction if taken without a prescription or recreationally outside expert supervision.
Over-the-counter variants like cyclobenzaprine and ibuprofen are not controlled substances. Carisoprodol and diazepam are both classified under Schedule IV of controlled substances in the US.
Carisoprodol and Diazepam
Carisoprodol (Soma) and diazepam (Valium) are habit-forming muscle relaxants. Although they provide brief relief from chronic muscle pains, long-term use of these drugs may turn into dependence and abuse.
For this reason, although effective in relieving chronic pain, they’re typically only intended for short-term use.
Diazepam is a benzodiazepine that works by depressing the central nervous system, increasing your brain’s gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) activity and dopamine levels. This results in a rapid euphoric and calming effect that could reinforce frequent drug use.
Carisoprodol works similarly to benzodiazepine sedatives. It has the potential to become addictive because it produces a metabolite called meprobamate, a sedative-hypnotic that acts on the GABA receptors.
How Muscle Relaxant Substance Abuse Affects Your Health
Apart from dependence and SUD, abusing muscle relaxants like diazepam and carisoprodol can lead to various health risks and complications.
One immediate hazard comes from impaired motor coordination, reaction time, and muscle control. This increases the likelihood of accidents and injuries for people who operate heavy machinery.
Another danger of misusing relaxants is how they can stress the organs. When ingested in huge amounts and in conjunction with alcohol, the medication can cause significant damage to the kidneys, liver, and heart.
Continued chronic abuse can also result in serious cognitive impairments, such as dulled alertness, forgetfulness, and inability to focus, which can lead to performance issues in school or work.
Studies show that individuals who regularly abuse muscle relaxants are prone to developing co-occurring mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety disorders.
Risk of Overdose
Like many CNS depressants, muscle relaxers are extremely dangerous when paired with other alcohol, benzodiazepines, sleep medications, and opioids. Combining these substances risks serious outcomes, such as overdose, respiratory depression, coma, and death.
If you or someone near you shows signs like labored or slowed breathing, vomiting, unconsciousness, palpitations, seizures, or stupor after polydrug use, promptly call 911 or seek immediate medical assistance.
Recognizing Signs of Muscle Relaxer Addiction
Identifying early signs and symptoms of dependence and addiction is crucial to providing fast and effective interventions. Still, it’s worth noting that not everyone who abuses muscle relaxers is necessarily addicted.
Dependence is a biological reaction and is different from SUD. It happens when your body becomes used to functioning with the substance, which can result from taking prescription medications for months or years.
It can, however, sometimes be a precursor to addiction. Additionally, people who become dependent on muscle relaxers can experience withdrawal symptoms after ceasing or stopping their intake.
In contrast, SUD can be characterized by impaired control, compulsive behavior, social problems, and heightened tolerance for the substance.
Spotting Signs of Dependency and Addiction
Recognizing addiction in yourself or your loved ones can be difficult. If you suspect someone you know is abusing carisoprodol or diazepam, they may exhibit one or more of the following signs:
- Slurring speech
- Noticeable clumsiness
- Dilated pupils
- Delusions
- Appetite changes
- Sudden mood changes
- Nervousness
- Dry mouth
- Cravings
- Paranoia
- Suicidal thoughts
- A general disregard for their well-being
The person suffering from Soma or Valium addiction may go to great lengths to get more of the substance. They would be uncharacteristically willing to travel long distances to fill up their prescriptions or visit different physicians.
Over time, they may start lying to their physician, family, and friends or steal from other patients to satiate their cravings.
Muscle Relaxers Withdrawal Symptoms
Individuals living with muscle relaxer addiction are usually physically dependent on the medication. This means they can exhibit withdrawal symptoms after some time without the substance.
Symptoms of withdrawal can range from mild to severe, life-threatening complications. Here are some examples:
- Vomiting
- Tremors
- Difficulty sleeping
- Twitching muscles
- Anxiety
- Hallucinations
- Delusions
- Ataxia (loss of muscle control)
Withdrawal from diazepam (Valium) and similar benzodiazepine medications can be fatal, with reported symptoms like seizures, coma, and death. As such, people who abuse these drugs are advised to seek out medical assistance and care.
Addiction Treatment Options For Muscle Relaxer Abuse
If any of your friends or loved ones are struggling with a substance use disorder involving muscle relaxers, it’s important to talk to them about their condition.
Research shows that one of the most effective ways to help someone with SUD is intervening early. Getting them into a personalized treatment plan for carisoprodol or diazepam can help prevent serious problems, whether with their health, social life, or career.
Rehab centers employ various evidence-based practices to treat addiction, which can consist of one or a combination of the following:
- Detox Therapy: Detoxing under medical supervision and in a secure facility ensures you go through muscle relaxer withdrawal comfortably and safely.
- Medication-Assisted Treatment: Serious cases of SUD may require FDA-approved medication to help manage severe withdrawal symptoms.
- Behavioral Therapy: Talk therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), can be employed to identify and resolve underlying issues that reinforce drug use, as well as learn valuable coping skills.
- Support Groups: Peer support groups provide a safe and non-judgmental space where recovering SUD patients can meet to share their experiences, improve communication, and build sober communities.
Bottom Line: Seeking Help
Some muscle relaxers work by depressing the central nervous system and can become addictive if misused.
But you’re not alone, and help is just around the corner. Long Island Interventions offers humane and holistic personalized care for individuals struggling with muscle relaxer dependence and addiction.
Talk to us and get your life back on track today!
Written by: The Long Island Interventions Editorial Team
Editor: Isaac Adams-Hands
Medically Reviewed by: MedicallyReviewed.com
Published on: November 30, 2025
Updated on: April 30, 2026
