Muscle relaxers are medicines that let the muscles relax. These drugs react with the function of skeletal muscle and diminish contraction of muscles. Muscle relaxers relieve patients from pain caused by hyperreflexia and muscle spasm. These drugs were first introduced back in the 16th Century by European explorers. The first muscle relaxer was created to fight muscle paralysis caused by poison called as “curare”. It was widely used by Amazon people during the old days.
What are the two types of Muscle Relaxers?
In order to understand more about muscle relaxers, it is useful to study about muscles.
There are two classifications of muscles.
1. Skeletal Muscles
It is referred as voluntary muscles. The skeletal muscles are any muscles related to the voluntary actions of our body. This group of muscle includes the muscles found in arms, legs and the likes.
2. Smooth Muscles
It is most commonly known as involuntary muscles. Under this category are muscles in reproductive tracts of men and women, the bladder, uterus and the iris of the eyes.
Normally, it is the skeletal muscles that needs treatment offered by muscle relaxers. They assist skeletal muscles to relax and decrease stiffness. Doctors widely use muscle relaxers in major surgical activities that includes muscle injury.
Muscle relaxers are generally prescribed for a limited time to patients experiencing muscle pain. Patients that are suffering from fibromyalgia use this medicine to relieve from pain cause by muscle spasm. These medicines help patients to relax more and sleep properly.
Examples of Muscle Relaxers:
How Muscle Relaxers Help Improve Sleeping?
Muscle relaxers are often prescribed by rheumatologists to patients to help them sleep well. Improper sleep causes discomfort in our body. Doctors know the importance of proper sleep and they use muscle relaxers to help patient sleep well and have a good mood when they wake up. Though it is not suggested to be use on permanent basis, doctors regulate the use of muscle relaxers. It is also effective to relieve pain while sleeping.
Muscle Relaxers are also good for our central nervous system. However, the dosage level of these drugs must be taken into consideration with proper care and attention. This medicine may cause overdose if taken excessively. Some of the muscle relaxers have similar effects with anti-depressant drugs. Due to their sedative effects, patients are advised to prohibit themselves from any physical activities like working, driving and other related activities. Improper use of this drug may lead to overdose.
What Happens When a Patient Experiences Muscle Relaxer Overdose?
Drinking muscle relaxers put patient into sleep. Overdose of this medicine may cause all muscles to stop functioning. When muscles are not functioning for a longer time than the normal time our body would allow, the bladder fails to perform and urine retention exists.
Muscle relaxers are essential in treating diseases associated with muscle pain but a patient should be careful enough not to use this medicine beyond the prescribed dosage and time.
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