Recommend Limiting Use of Muscle Relaxants to 7 Days for Acute Low Back Pain

February 2017

The focus on limiting opioids will raise questions about the role of muscle relaxants (cyclobenzaprine, etc) for acute low back pain.

About 1 in 3 patients with low back pain are on a muscle relaxant.

But there's limited evidence they improve symptoms. Most don't directly relax muscles...any benefit is likely due to a sedative effect.

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Table of Contents

Interactions Follow These Rules of Thumb to Manage Drug Interactions
Smoking Cessation Expect Less Concern Over Psychiatric Effects With Champix
COPD Expect Fewer Inhaled Steroids to Be Used for COPD
Anticoagulants Consider Lixiana for Patients Who Want a Once-Daily Direct Oral Anticoagulant
Interactions Watch for Statin Interactions With Pradaxa
Antihistamines Expect to See Blexten and Rupall Rxs for Patients With Allergies
Respiratory & Allergy Think of OTC Flonase Allergy Relief as Similar to Nasacort Allergy 24HR
Muscle Relaxants Recommend Limiting Use of Muscle Relaxants to 7 Days for Acute Low Back Pain
NSAIDs Ease Concerns About Using NSAIDs After Most Fractures
Hypotension Consider Med Causes and Suggest Nondrug Measures in Orthostatic Patients
Side Effects Address Taste Disturbances to Prevent Med Adherence Issues
Renal & Urology Explain When Alpha-Blockers May Be Helpful for Kidney Stones