To Your Health
September, 2024 (Vol. 18, Issue 09) |
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Not So Relaxing
By Editorial Staff
Muscle relaxants such as Flexeril and other brand-name products are prescribed to do just what they suggest – relax muscles that are tight, spasming and/or painful. Besides being drugs, which generally come with a long list of potential side effects, they also don't seem to work for some of the conditions they're prescribed for, according to new research – particularly low back pain.
Published in
JAMA Network Open, the study reviewed 44 previous involving nearly 2,500 patients and nine different muscle relaxants, finding long-term use (at least one month) beneficial for some conditions, but not others – including low back pain. This is significant because medical doctors often prescribe muscle relaxants for chronic back pain.
The researchers emphasize their findings, stating: "This summary of the evidence raises concerns given the growth in [skeletal muscle relaxant] prescriptions over the last decade, including for more than 1 in 6 patients seeking care for chronic back pain in a national study of Medicare beneficiaries. Furthermore, previous studies suggest that as many as 30% of individuals using opioids are also prescribed SMRs, which increase risks of opioid-related overdose, particularly in those taking SMRs for longer durations."
OK, so let's talk about back pain and your options: pain-relievers and potentially muscle relaxants; or chiropractic spinal adjustments. One doesn't seem to work; the other does. Relax and make the right choice.
