Most muscle relaxers aren’t considered highly addictive, but medications like Soma (carisoprodol) and Valium (diazepam) can lead to misuse, dependence, and addiction. The difference largely comes down to the specific medication and how it affects the brain.
Understanding which medication you’ve been prescribed can help you better assess your individual risk. If you or someone you love experiences prescription muscle relaxer misuse, Serenity Grove is an Athens, Georgia treatment center that offers prescription drug addiction treatment for adults who need support overcoming prescription drug misuse.
What Are Muscle Relaxers?
Doctors prescribe muscle relaxers to treat muscle spasms, spasticity, and musculoskeletal pain, but these conditions affect the body in different ways.
Muscle spasms are sudden, involuntary contractions that may occur after an injury, overuse, dehydration, or stress. Spasticity causes ongoing muscle stiffness due to changes affecting the brain or spinal cord, often related to conditions such as multiple sclerosis or cerebral palsy. Musculoskeletal pain may develop after an injury or from chronic conditions like arthritis or fibromyalgia.
Muscle relaxers generally fall into two categories:
- Antispasmodics treat muscle spasms and related pain.
- Antispastics reduce muscle stiffness caused by neurological conditions.
Understanding the type of muscle relaxer someone takes can help explain why certain medications have a higher risk of misuse than others.
Which Muscle Relaxers Are Addictive?
Most commonly prescribed muscle relaxers, including cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), methocarbamol (Robaxin), metaxalone (Skelaxin), and chlorzoxazone (Lorzone), are not controlled substances and carry a relatively low risk of addiction when used as directed.
Two medications pose a higher risk:
- Diazepam (Valium) is a benzodiazepine with a known risk of dependence and addiction.
- Carisoprodol (Soma) is a Schedule IV controlled substance because of its potential for misuse and dependence.
Both medications affect the central nervous system in ways that can create sedative effects and increase the likelihood of misuse compared to most other muscle relaxers.
Even lower-risk muscle relaxers should only be taken as prescribed, since misuse can still lead to harmful side effects, tolerance, or physical dependence.
Why Some Muscle Relaxers Carry More Risk Than Others
The biggest difference comes down to how a medication affects the brain.
Diazepam belongs to the benzodiazepine class, which also includes lorazepam (Ativan), alprazolam (Xanax), and clonazepam (Klonopin). Benzodiazepines carry a higher risk of dependence, especially when used regularly or combined with alcohol, opioids, or other sedatives.
Although many muscle relaxers can cause drowsiness, most don’t produce the same reinforcing sedative effects associated with diazepam or carisoprodol. This difference helps explain why addiction is much less common with medications such as cyclobenzaprine or methocarbamol.
How Muscle Relaxer Addiction Develops
Many people begin taking a muscle relaxer exactly as prescribed after an injury or for chronic pain. Over time, they may begin taking higher doses, using the medication longer than recommended, or relying on its calming effects rather than its intended medical purpose.
Others begin using muscle relaxers recreationally to experience their sedating effects. Misuse becomes more dangerous when these medications are combined with alcohol, opioids, or other substances that slow the nervous system.
As misuse continues, the body may develop tolerance, meaning someone needs more of the medication to experience the same effects.
It’s also important to understand the difference between physical dependence and addiction. Physical dependence occurs when the body adapts to a medication and may experience withdrawal symptoms after stopping. Addiction involves compulsive use despite negative consequences. Someone can develop dependence without addiction, although the two can occur together.
Warning Signs of Muscle Relaxer Addiction
Signs that someone may be struggling with muscle relaxer addiction include:
- Taking larger amounts of medication or using it longer than prescribed
- Attempting to buy, borrow, or steal muscle relaxers
- Visiting multiple doctors to obtain additional prescriptions
- Becoming anxious, irritated, or restless when unable to use the medication
- Significant changes in mood, energy, or behaviors
- Declining performance at work or school
- Neglecting responsibilities or personal care
- Losing interest in hobbies, relationships, or activities they once enjoyed
- Withdrawal from family and friends
These signs don’t automatically mean someone has developed a muscle relaxer addiction. They may also point to another substance use issue or an underlying mental health concern. A healthcare professional can help determine what’s happening and recommend appropriate support.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) addictive?
Cyclobenzaprine isn’t a controlled substance and generally carries a low risk of addiction when taken as prescribed. However, taking it longer than recommended or misusing it can increase the risk of physical dependence.
What’s the difference between Valium and other muscle relaxers?
Valium (diazepam) is a benzodiazepine rather than a typical low-risk muscle relaxer. Because it affects the central nervous system, it has a greater potential for dependence and misuse than medications such as cyclobenzaprine or methocarbamol.
Can you become dependent on muscle relaxers even if you take them as prescribed?
It is possible for physical dependence to develop after regular use of certain medications, even when they’re taken exactly as prescribed. Anyone considering stopping a regularly used muscle relaxer should talk with a healthcare professional first, since some medications require a gradual taper.
What are the signs of muscle relaxer withdrawal?
Withdrawal symptoms may include anxiety, irritability, trouble sleeping, muscle stiffness, sweating, and tremors. In severe cases involving medication such as diazepam or carisoprodol, withdrawal may include confusion and seizures. Anyone taking these medications regularly should speak with a healthcare provider before stopping.
Find Treatment for Prescription Drug Addiction in Athens, GA
Whether you’ve developed dependence on a prescription muscle relaxer or feel that medication use has become difficult to control, professional treatment can help.
Serenity Grove provides personalized prescription drug addiction treatment for adults in Athens, GA. Depending on your needs, treatment may begin with a medical detox program and continue through residential treatment, a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), or outpatient care.
Throughout treatment, experienced clinicians help manage withdrawal, address the underlying causes of substance use, and develop the skills necessary to support long-term recovery.
Contact us today to learn more or schedule a confidential assessment.
Sources:
- Carisoprodol — U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
- Diazepam — National Library of Medicine:MedlinePlus
- Carisoprodol — National Library of Medicine
