From the Research
Cyclobenzaprine 5 mg TID is considered the least sedating muscle relaxant option, as it has been shown to be as effective as 10 mg TID with a lower incidence of sedation 1.
Key Points
- Cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxant that is effective in improving muscle spasm, reducing local pain and tenderness, and increasing range of motion in acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions.
- The 5 mg TID regimen of cyclobenzaprine has been found to be as effective as the 10 mg TID regimen, but with less sedation 1.
- Other relatively less sedating options include tizanidine, which has been shown to be effective in managing spasticity and musculoskeletal complaints, but may cause sedation, which can be minimized by dose titration 2, 3.
- Baclofen is also considered a relatively less sedating option, but its efficacy and safety compared to cyclobenzaprine and tizanidine are not as well established in the context of musculoskeletal conditions 4, 5.
Considerations
- When taking cyclobenzaprine, it's essential to start with a low dose and increase gradually to minimize side effects.
- Patients should be cautious when driving or operating machinery until they know how the medication affects them.
- The choice of a skeletal muscle relaxant should be based on its adverse-effect profile, tolerability, and cost, as the comparative efficacy of different muscle relaxants is not well established 4, 5.