There are several factors you may wish to take into account when figuring out the right muscle relaxer for back pain. Probably the most important thing is to find a drug that works well for you, as different people can have better responses to certain medications. You will also need to consider the potential side effects, and whether you can live with them. Another consideration is the fact that certain muscle relaxers have the potential to become addictive; if you will be taking a drug of this type, you will want to consult carefully with your doctor.
The best muscle relaxer for back pain is going to be one that actually eases your pain. Not all patients respond to every drug in the same manner, so you may find that one type of medication does a very good job while another does little to take the pain away. You may need to work with your doctor and try several medications before you find one that is effective.
Almost all drugs have at least some side effects, and muscle relaxers are no exception. Some common side effects of most types include dizziness, drowsiness, and blurred vision. Certain drugs can cause more severe issues; diazepam can make sleeping difficult, particularly after its use is discontinued, because it often changes your sleeping cycles, while cyclobenzaprine can lead to both mental and physical impairment. It is important to talk to your doctor about all potential side effects before taking a muscle relaxer for back pain, and to let him or her know immediately if the negative impact of the side effects is outweighing the benefits of the drug. You may be able to try another medication that is just as effective without having the same negative effects.
Taking a muscle relaxer for back pain may carry the risk of becoming habit-forming. Drugs like carisoprodol and diazepam have a high potential for becoming addictive; if you are considering one of these drugs, you should make sure you are comfortable with this possibility and talk to your doctor about how best to avoid it. If you are not comfortable with it, you may wish to consider an alternative like cyclobenzaprine. Also, keep in mind, you will likely only be prescribed a potentially habit-forming drug for a relatively short period of time, so if you have chronic back pain you may need to find another option.