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Question about muscle relaxer for Sherrine

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Fibromyalgia
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Posted 5/16/2018 11:41 AM (GMT -5)
Hi Sherrine: I'm heading to my doctor fairly soon, and wanted to check with you about taking Robaxin. I have been taking Flexeril, but wow--it sure can make me sleepy! smhair

If I recall correctly, I think you said Robaxin doesn't have too many side effects, including not causing fatigue. Flexeril works pretty well for me otherwise, once I get past that first yawwwwn hurdle!


If anyone else here has suggestions for good muscle relaxers, I'm all ears.
smile
Posted 5/16/2018 1:33 PM (GMT -5)
Luvs, I have had a bad back since ninth grade. Back in the late ‘70’s I think, I would get terrible back spasms. My doctor prescribed 500 mg Robaxin. I was to take two tablets every six hours. I went home, popped two tablets and was sound asleep in 10-15 minutes. I slept for about two hours! I didn’t like that but I REALLY didn’t like the back spasms so I took my next dose as prescribed. Those didn’t make me sleep at all and neither did any of the other doses! I had no side effects.

The next time I was put on Robaxin, I took my first dose right before I was heading to bed. That way I was going to sleep anyway and in the morning the next dose had no side effects. I could drive. I wasn’t sleepy, etc.

I hadn’t had Robaxin for quite a few years. When I was diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis, I started reading about it. The NIH site I was checking said that ibuprofen was the first line of attack. Then it went on to mention that Robaxin has helped a lot with AS. Since I had experience with this medication, I asked my rheumy if he would prescribe it for me since I was in so much pain. He agreed.

He prescribed the exact dose my other doctor had years ago. I decided to try taking only one tablet four times a day and it worked and I didn’t get sleepy on that first dose! So I just took one tablet per dose and it made a significant difference in my pain. I now only take two doses a day...one before breakfast and one before dinner. If I have a flare, I will take more doses.

The beauty of Robaxin is that the tablets are scored! If one tablet made you sleepy, you could take a half a tablet and see how that goes. I’m sensitive to medications so I take as little as I can. Robaxin has been around for years and is very inexpensive too. It might be worth a shot. Hopefully your doctor will agree with you and you have as much success as I do with this medication.

Sherrine.
Posted 5/16/2018 2:47 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks so much for that info, Sherrine. It certainly sounds promising!

I've taken Flexeril over the years when I needed to, but even half a tablet seems strong to me. I would guess I must be sensitive to meds, also. I can handle the Neurontin a little better, and am able to work through the bit of "fog" it gives me.

Yes, I'm going to check with my doctor on the Robaxin. That's a good idea: to take only half a tablet and see how it goes. I would guess it has to be an improvement over the Flexeril. I sure hope so.

Also, thanks for mentioning that the cost is very inexpensive. A huge factor! I've been prescribed a few things that were way over what was affordable, and rejected them.

I'll keep you posted. Thanks again. smile
Posted 5/16/2018 3:32 PM (GMT -5)
Luvs, you can also check at GoodRx.com to check prices at various pharmacies. A lot of people use GoodRx instead of their private insurance because of the savings.

Good luck at the dr...
Posted 5/16/2018 11:07 PM (GMT -5)
Luvs, if you do not mind , let us know how that goes..

I could not take flexoril, and tried the generic of robaxin and had much the same issue..but i really think its just a personal sensitivity to the type of meds.

Honestly my dr said he woukd change as many times as i need to find one that works for me.. but exprerimenting is bad with me and meds..

I would like to just have some kind of it on hand for a bad flare..
Posted 5/17/2018 9:27 AM (GMT -5)
Ljm, how many tablets did you take at one time? Did you try cutting a tablet in half and taking half of it?

Sherrine
Posted 5/17/2018 10:33 AM (GMT -5)
Thank you for posting it. I have an appt with my Dr. this afternoon. I'm going to ask him about it. I take Tizanidine. 1 in the AM, 1 in the afternoon and 2 at bedtime. I'm always tired and sleepy. My BP has been difficult to control so now I'm taking med for that 3X a day. If I take both I might as well not get out of bed. So, it's either hurt or control my BP.
Posted 5/17/2018 12:19 PM (GMT -5)
I tried 1/4 , because i know i have sensitivities..for some reason i feel awful on that type of med, but i sure know my muscles coukd use that help..

Maybe at some point i will try a third type..

Lj
Posted 5/17/2018 2:18 PM (GMT -5)
Luvz,

You may already have had your appointment by now, but I've been taking Diazepam (Valium) for about 3 weeks now, and it's made an amazing difference as far as my horrible cramps from my herniated disc. I can sleep!

Yes, they say it's not good long-term (too addicting.) I gather it's kind of "bringing out the big guns," and maybe it would help you get your pain down to a dull roar...

Good luck!

Debbie
Posted 5/18/2018 4:13 PM (GMT -5)
straydog: Thanks for the info on GoodRx.com I wasn't at all familiar with that and will check it out.
Thanks to you and everyone here for the good wishes, too. I don't like switching meds, but this one sounds more promising.

Lj: You sound like me--I don't do well on meds but do want them near if there's a bad flare. Seems I've been in a flare since about March, and whew--is it getting old! sad

Lendi: Good luck to you, too. Yes, sometimes it's like we're between a rock and a hard place.

Debbie: First, best of luck on your surgery--I sure hope it corrects the issue(s). It sounds like it should. Several years ago I was prescribed Lorazepam, which I think is similar to Valium(??) I could be wrong, but it did help.

It's too bad people get addicted to some meds, but it does trouble me that now it's like "everyone" will become addicted and they have such a hold on such meds. I'm sure glad your med is helping you--may it go on!

I'll try it and see how it goes from there. Thanks again, everyone! smile
Posted 5/18/2018 5:08 PM (GMT -5)
Luvs, I checked to see when Robaxin first came out. The FDA approved Robaxin in 1957...61 years ago! Not everyone can take it but it must help quite a few or it would be long gone by now! I’m just happy I didn’t give up on it after that first dose, I was amazed subsequent doses didn’t bother me at all. So it is worth a shot. I hope your doctor will let you try it and that it works for you.

Sherrine
Posted 5/19/2018 8:55 AM (GMT -5)
Thanks, Luv. The Dr. put me on another BP so hopefully that will help. I took my muscle relaxant so we'll see how it goes.

It always amazes how differently people react to different meds.

I think some med are kept behind the pharmacy because they are drugs that are used in making street drugs. There is even a National "Central Pharmacy" where some drugs are distributed from. They are for drugs that can have a high consequences and no other pharmacy can distribute those drugs. I took a drug for narcolepsy several years ago, which is the only way I know about it.
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