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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Michael D on March 22, 2002, at 18:27:57
Has anyone had any benefit from using muscle relaxants, other than benzos, as a sleep aid?
Michael D
Posted by Willow on March 22, 2002, at 19:40:11
In reply to muscle relaxants as sleep aids, posted by Michael D on March 22, 2002, at 18:27:57
Michael
I use baclofen for the muscle relaxant properties, but it is also sedating about an hour after taking it so I take it close to bedtime.
Willow
Posted by OldSchool on March 22, 2002, at 22:33:27
In reply to muscle relaxants as sleep aids, posted by Michael D on March 22, 2002, at 18:27:57
> Has anyone had any benefit from using muscle relaxants, other than benzos, as a sleep aid?
>
> Michael DYou can get the same effect cheaper and with no drug side effects from just taking good quality OTC calcium/magnesium supplements at bedtime. You know what Doan's back pills are? Magnesium. Magnesium is a muscle relaxant. Take a supplement that has 1000 mg calcium combined with 500-1000 mg magnesium and see if it doesnt make you sleepy.
Old School
Posted by Bekka H. on March 22, 2002, at 22:53:10
In reply to Re: muscle relaxants as sleep aids, posted by OldSchool on March 22, 2002, at 22:33:27
Hi Old School,
I've heard that Calcium and Magnesium Citrate are better absorbed than Calcium and Magnesium Gluconate. Have you tried both and, if so, do you notice a difference?
Bekka
Posted by OldSchool on March 22, 2002, at 22:57:50
In reply to Re: muscle relaxants as sleep aids, posted by Bekka H. on March 22, 2002, at 22:53:10
> Hi Old School,
>
> I've heard that Calcium and Magnesium Citrate are better absorbed than Calcium and Magnesium Gluconate. Have you tried both and, if so, do you notice a difference?
>
> BekkaHi Bekka, I have read the same thing. The citrate forms are supposed to be better. I always look for the citrate forms of these when I buy them. I usually use the Solaray or Solvay brands if I remember the names right. Personally I always liked the Solaray brand.
Old School
Posted by 3 Beer Effect on March 22, 2002, at 23:33:03
In reply to Re: muscle relaxants as sleep aids, posted by OldSchool on March 22, 2002, at 22:33:27
Posted by 3 Beer Effect on March 22, 2002, at 23:33:45
In reply to muscle relaxants as sleep aids, posted by Michael D on March 22, 2002, at 18:27:57
Posted by Bekka H. on March 23, 2002, at 23:11:02
In reply to Re: muscle relaxants as sleep aids, posted by OldSchool on March 22, 2002, at 22:57:50
Hi Old School,
Thanks for the info. I have Solgar. I'll look for the Solaray or Solvay the next time I go to the store. Do you get it at the health food store or a pharmacy?
By the way, have you ever tried anything like Sleepytime Tea or any of those herbal teas? If so, what do you think? Do they help you relax?
Bekka
Posted by OldSchool on March 24, 2002, at 10:45:22
In reply to Re: muscle relaxants as sleep aids-Old School, posted by Bekka H. on March 23, 2002, at 23:11:02
> Hi Old School,
>
> Thanks for the info. I have Solgar. I'll look for the Solaray or Solvay the next time I go to the store. Do you get it at the health food store or a pharmacy?
Health food store>
> By the way, have you ever tried anything like Sleepytime Tea or any of those herbal teas? If so, what do you think? Do they help you relax?
>
> Bekka
Yeah Ive tried some of those teas. Some of them do work. Just ask the health food store which teas are good for relaxation and insomnia. Also go over to the Dr. Weil website and he has all kinds of info on that sort of thing. Finally, dont forget there is always valarian root which has been a standby for insomnia and anxiety since olden times and was originally used in the mideast. I read Valarian root has very mild anti-convulsant properties, so I suppose in some ways it is similar to benzos, as all benzos have some mild anti-convulsant properties. Three are lots of teas and stuff that have sedative properties. Seems like I remember one of them as being skullcap. Kava Kava is another but Ive read bad stuff about kava kava and liver problems so Id be careful there.still, OTC calcium/magnesium supplements is my personal fav for insomnia and generalized anxiety. No toxic side effect, cheap as dirt, and actually good for you as many are deficient in magnesium.
Posted by Michael D on March 24, 2002, at 20:51:04
In reply to muscle relaxants as sleep aids, posted by Michael D on March 22, 2002, at 18:27:57
Has anyone had any experience with baclofen? (other than those mentioned in this thread)
I read a bit about it here:
http://www.newswise.com/articles/2001/3/TOURET2.AAN.html
It seems to have anti-anxiety properties, as well as well as muscle-relaxant properties.
Regards,
Michael D
Posted by mike21 on March 25, 2002, at 20:06:45
In reply to baclofen, posted by Michael D on March 24, 2002, at 20:51:04
I was watching a pbs special about the brain a few weeks ago. There was a guy who was taking a muscle relaxant, I think it was baclofen, because he had become paralyzed. He was also a former cocaine addict and he realized he no longer craved it when he was taking the relaxant. They did a pet scan of his brain before and after the treatment, and it was clearly "normalized" when he was taking the relaxant.
I am interested in how a drug like this could produce this type of effect. I am also wondering if benzodiazepines have the same effect on the brain.
If you find anything else interesting, please post. Thanks!
Mike
> Has anyone had any experience with baclofen? (other than those mentioned in this thread)
>
> I read a bit about it here:
>
> http://www.newswise.com/articles/2001/3/TOURET2.AAN.html
>
> It seems to have anti-anxiety properties, as well as well as muscle-relaxant properties.
>
> Regards,
>
> Michael D
Posted by katepier52 on March 25, 2002, at 22:59:06
In reply to Soma (carispodal) works well (nm), posted by 3 Beer Effect on March 22, 2002, at 23:33:45
Has worked well for me without the long-lasting sedating effects of flexoril, etc
Posted by Elizabeth on March 26, 2002, at 22:55:17
In reply to muscle relaxants as sleep aids, posted by Michael D on March 22, 2002, at 18:27:57
I've taken Soma -- the only real muscle relaxant other than benzos that's used much -- at bedtime many times. I did have insomnia, but it was secondary to musculoskeletal pain. Soma is sedating, but like most sedating drugs, tolerance to this effect develops rapidly.
There're a lot of other drugs that are touted as muscle relaxants, but my impression is that any muscle relaxation that they do cause is the result of sedation, not a direct effect.
I took a pretty large dose of baclofen (which is labelled for spasticity, not for musculoskeletal pain, BTW) for a few months but it didn't do anything for the pain. It also wasn't sedating, and it had no noticeable antianxiety effect.
I've heard about baclofen being used for cocaine addiction. It's weird. Baclofen isn't a benzodiazepine; it's a direct agonist at the GABA-B receptor.
-elizabeth
This is the end of the thread.
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