Muscle relaxers and alcohol, What to do, Risks, Dangers, Withdrawal, Other Interactions & Addiction

Most people who take muscle relaxers suffer from muscle spasms, which occur when one or more of your muscles cramps or twitches involuntarily. These spasms can often be uncomfortable and extremely painful. While most individuals can take over-the-counter muscle relaxers like Tylenol or Advil to alleviate the pain, these medications may not be suitable for people who have liver problems or stomach ulcers. Instead, their doctors may prescribe them a muscle relaxant. While these medications can be helpful, the side effects of muscle relaxers can also be just as uncomfortable and painful as the problems they’re meant to treat. Over-the-counter muscle relaxers and prescription muscle relaxants can be addictive and can also cause severe symptoms

Over-the-counter muscle relaxers or muscle relaxants are medications used to treat acute muscle pain and discomfort caused by muscle spasms. Muscle spasms are involuntary contractions that cause excessive strain in muscles and are often associated with conditions such as lower back pain and neck pain.

Medications used as muscle relaxers can differ in their chemical structures and the way they work in the brain. In general, over-the-counter muscle relaxers act as central nervous system depressants and cause a sedative effect or prevent your nerves from sending pain signals to your brain. The onset of action is rapid and effects typically last from 4-6 hours.

Carisoprodol, also known by the brand name Soma, is a prescription skeletal muscle relaxant. It is typically prescribed to relieve pain caused by muscle injuries like strains and sprains. This drug comes in tablet form and is taken by mouth, often several times a day when treating an injury. Soma medication is typically combined with physical therapy and other treatments to treat muscle pain. However, some people become addicted to carisoprodol and use it other than how it is intended.

Muscle relaxers are a group of drugs that relieve muscular spasms or pain. They can be prescribed to help ease symptoms associated with conditions such as back pain, neck pain, and tension headaches.

If you’re taking a muscle relaxer, you should avoid consuming alcohol. Read on to learn more about muscle relaxers and why they don’t mix with alcohol. Plus, find out what to do if you’ve already mixed the two.

Why you should’t mix muscle relaxers and alcohol?

So, why is mixing muscle relaxers and alcohol a bad idea? The answer lies in how muscle relaxers and alcohol affect your body. Muscle relaxers and alcohol both depress your central nervous system. They work to slow brain activity, which can slow functions down your breathing and heart rate as well. They can also make you feel calm or sleepy.

Since both muscle relaxers and alcohol have this depressant effect, combining the two can compound their impact on your body. This means that the side effects of muscle relaxers, such as drowsiness or dizziness, can be intensified when you drink alcohol.

• Increased drowsiness or tiredness
• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Slowed breathing
• Reduced motor control or coordination

• Problems with memory
• Increased risk of seizures
• Increased risk of overdose

• Tremors
• Irritability
• Sweating
• Elevated heart rate
• Quick breathing
• Increased blood pressure

• Nausea and vomiting
• Trouble sleeping
• Nightmares
• Hallucinations
• Seizures

• Feeling extremely tired
• Nausea or vomiting
• Slowed breathing
• Feeling very weak
• Severely impaired movement or coordination

• Heartbeat abnormalities, such as palpitations or arrhythmias
• Confusion
• Low blood pressure
• Seizures

Alcohol isn’t the only thing to steer clear of while taking muscle relaxers.

Certain medications can also react with muscle relaxers, including:

• Opioid drugs, such as the pain relievers OxyContin and Vicodin
• Benzodiazepines, a type of sedative medication such as Xanax and Klonopin
• Tricyclic antidepressants
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
• Fluvoxamine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
• Ciprofloxacil (Cipro), an antibiotic

Muscle Relaxers Abuse

Muscle relaxers have the potential for abuse and addiction. Prolonged use can lead to increased tolerance and physical dependence, especially with Soma. For this reason, muscle relaxers are intended as a short-term treatment not to be prescribed for more than 2-3 weeks.

Unfortunately, many individuals take muscle relaxers alone or in combination with other illicit drugs for nonmedical reasons, such as to produce or enhance feelings of euphoria and dissociation. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, Soma is one of the most commonly diverted drugs in the United States. Evidence also indicates prevalent misuse of Flexeril. In 2010 there were over 12,000 emergency room visits associated with Flexeril, and in 2016 over 10,000 calls to the Poison Control Centers had involved Flexeril.

• Stupor
• Hallucinations
• Seizures
• Shock

• Respiratory depression
• Cardiac arrest
• Coma
• Death

Carisoprodol causes muscle relaxation, sedation, and decreased anxiety. However, muscle relaxants like carisoprodol can also cause various unintended side effects. These side effects can become more severe, and even dangerous when the drug is misused. The National Library of Medicine lists the following side effects of carisoprodol:

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Increased clumsiness
• Headache
• Increased heart rate
• Upset stomach and vomiting
• Skin rash

Some side effects, like difficulty breathing, fever, weakness, or burning in the eyes, can indicate a severe reaction to carisoprodol and require immediate medical attention. The effects of carisoprodol generally set in within 30 minutes of taking the drug and generally last 4-6 hours.

Abusing carisoprodol can have many adverse effects on the body. The Drug Enforcement Administration lists the following physical effects:

• Agitation
• Irritability
• Depression
• Temporary loss of consciousness
• Tachycardia
• Hypotension
• Extreme weakness
• Cervical spine injury

• Difficulty speaking
• Temporary loss of vision
• Double vision
• Dilated pupils
• Euphoria
• Confusion
• Disorientation