Muscle relaxants vs Valium

[Briza]

Had a consultation visit with my gyn today. He's managing my IC and vulvodynia treatment. He started me on valium 2mg twice a day a month ago and I have gotten incredible relief so far, vaginal/pelvic floor spasms are subsiding, and this seems to be helping immensely with my vulvodynia symtpoms. He was really happy to hear this, and said that I could continue with the valium for some time, gave 3 refills, but he'd rather I not use it for the long term, and was going to look into some muscle relaxants instead. He had a couple in mind, I can't remember the names, but one sounded familiar, maybe started with an R, but he wanted to research these meds a little before prescribing them to make sure they wouldn't interact badly with my other meds, Elavil in particular.

So I don't know if I'm just giving a report here, or needing information!

I guess I 'd like to know what types of muscle relaxants are out there, if anyone has used them in lieu of valium, and what the benefit would be in taking a muscle relaxant instead of low dose valium?
I have another appt next month, so I will certainly discuss any changes in meds with him, but I'm interested in others' experiences with muscle relaxants other than valium.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, sharing!

BTW, since I started on the valium a month ago, I took it as prescribed for the first couple of weeks, then cut down to more of an as needed basis, going as long as 5 days without taking. No withdrawal symptoms, so I don't think the dose is so high that I am or would become dependent on it.

[sandi303]

Briza, I take the muscle relaxer Soma. I take it as needed, not daily. I like it cause, altho I'm not as sharp when I take it, I'm still able to function reasonably well. I don't know about what kind of interaction it would have with Elavil, as I don't take that, tho.

[ihurttoo]

I take Zanaflex for Fibro and for PFD. I have taken Flexeril and Skelaxin (I think that was the name.) in the past, but neither did much for me. The Zanaflex helps alot. Hope you find something that works well for you.

[Briza]

Thanks for your replies, Sandi and Amy!

Sandi,
I wonder if not feeling sharp, like you said, is a common side effect of muscle relaxers?

Amy
Zanaflex...do you feel that it affects you in any way, like Sandi said?

I am getting such good results with valium and I don't notice any side effects of feeling sleepy, loopy, or anything other than my vaginal muscles are relaxed. What I'm really hoping is that he will let me stay stick with valium if I use it only on an as needed basis. I'm a teacher so I have to be especially careful how my meds affect me. So will see how it goes. Sometimes have to do what dr says, do the doctor dance, as Amy once put it :)

Thanks again for your input. :)

[ihurttoo]

Briza, I dont really notice any adverse side effects like that. Sometimes those can be dose related. Other times, that feeling wears off after you have been on a med for a few weeks. Since you are a teacher, and must be sharp, you might want to try gettting in to your dr and switching now. It might be better in your case to try the new med sooner rather than later, in case it takes you a few weeks to adjust. (That is if you dont think you can convince him to let you stay on the valium just on an as needed basis.) Good luck! We have all been there! I hope it goes well for you!! Hugs, Amy

[Casi]

I take valium 2mg for the samething as you pelvic floor spasms and vulvodynia. I also take neurontin for vulvodynia, it helps w/ that a lot. My vulvodynia can be viscious at times and neurontin is for nerve pain and works great. I too have felt a great relief from valium! My dr was not concerned about me taking it for long term. I'm like you I only use it as needed and I am supposed to call for refills every month and most of the time I don't have to call until it's been well over a month. I hope your dr lets you use it as needed for as long as you need it, it's such a low dose so I don't think there would be too much of a risk. Or if he feels strongly about not using it long term hopefully whatever he gives you will help just as good.
Take care!

[sandi303]

Briza, I would imagine that "not feeling quite as sharp" is probably pretty common with muscle relaxers. But like Amy said, a lot of it has to do with dosage.

[rosesitty]

Briza - Any kind of muscle relaxer makes me groggy (and I've pretty much taken them all) and feel like I have medicine head. I have no side effects of any kind with the Valium, it just relaxes the pelvic floor and is working well. I take 2 mgs. twice a day. I've been on a benzodiazapine for a really long time, so I think my body is used to it. Some people get really sleepy on Valium. Lucky my doc is okay with me taking the Valium. It's one of the only things I'm on right now. Valium, Urelle, Sanctura (as needed) and then an antihistamine (claritin in the AM and Benedryl in the evenings). Atarax caused me severe water/urine retention. I have PFD and Valium is the only thing that relaxes things and takes the edge off the spasming.
Hope this info helps.

[ICNDonna]

There are some muscle relaxants that are effective for the "smooth" muscles, such as the bladder muscles. There are several available. The one I usually take when I need it is hyoscyamine. Even at full dosage, it doesn't make me sleepy. I've never tried valium at low dosage, but I do know it's what they give me sometimes as a pre-op medication and it definitely makes me groggy.

Donna

[armslee]

I have taken Zanaflex in the past. It comes in the form of 2mg pills so you can start very low dosage.

However, if you are taking any antidepressants you need to use caution taking muscle relaxers. My doctor took me off the Zanaflex when he put me on Lexapro, however I do know that you can mix Zanaflex with Cymbalta.

Good luck!

PS- you can check out webmd.com and learn lots about medications and adverse reactions from mixing with other meds.

[allmart]

I have found Valium to be the best "muscle relaxer" for my PFD. I tried zanaflex but it had too many side effects for me to use. Valium does not make me loopy, drowsy, or any other commonly associated side effects. Unfortunately, I have found it's difficult to find a Dr. willing to prescribe it. I recently saw a new specialist and their office told me he simply does not prescribe it. I have tried skelaxin, soma, flexeril, and baclofen as well. None of those help me enough or have too many side effects. My general practitioner's office just prescribed Robaxin as a temporary muscle relaxer for me to take until I can see them on Monday. I had a pelvic ultrasound yesterday which managed to hit every internal PFD trigger point that I have. In turn, my back went out while I was at a pain clinic having myofascial trigger point release on my shoulder. I was rolling off of the massage table to stand up and almost fell over. This was done about 2 1/2 hours after my ultrasound. The only good that has come out of this is realizing that my perpetual pelvic pain from a year ago was most likely triggered by an ultrasound or pelvic exam. My back gave out in this same way around that time and I had no idea why as it happened while I rolled over in bed. I strongly recommend anyone who has PFD to research and read about trigger points and where pain may be referred to. It's amazing the things our bodies are capable of torturing us with!

[ihurttoo]

I saw my rhematologist yesterday, and she said for me not take Cipro and Zanaflex together, that they are countraindicated. She said if I have to take Cipro for an infection that I must go offf the Zanaflex while I am on it. Although I always read my med info sheets, and research my meds, and even get them all at the same pharmacy, I somehow missed this, and so did my pharmcist and uro. (I am not on Cipro now, but I am sure that I have been in the last 4 yrs I have taken Zanaflex.) I just wanted to spread the word to other Zanaflex users, in cse this was news to you guys too. Hugs, Amy

[ICNDonna]

Valium is considered to be extremely addictive --- that's why many doctors aren't willing to prescribe it.

Donna

[graceimnot2096]

Last April my doc switched me from Elivil to remeron, and so far so good. I've only had 2 bad flares since we changed. I take remeron 45mg. daily, and ativan as needed for the pfd.
When I started to see this doc I was over medicated. I was seeing a doc that didn't have a clue so he just kept upping my dose and sending me on my way. I was taking 125mg of elivil every day for a couple of years. I couldn't hardly put two thoughts together let alone be able function in a normal life. I never thought I was the brightest crayon in the box, but I aslo knew that I was the dullest either. I couldn't walk and talk at the same time, that has cleared up since the med change.

[Bozema]

Briza-

My doctor had me try Baclofen, which is a muscle relaxant often used by MS patients to reduce muscle tremors. I found it helped prevent flares but did not stop them once started. I tried the valium suppository but found that oral Klonopin was more effective - but made me drowsy - so I use both depending on the circumstances and time of day. I am no longer taking Baclofen and Klonopin is my rescue drug. I am continuing in PT as well which I consider my long-term treatment program, with goal of not needing drugs like valium suppositories and klonopin, or needing them only rarely. I think I may get to that point in time.

-Laurie

[Kathy in Canada]

Hello,

Valium for PFD has been a life saver for me. I'm not sure I would have made it this far without it. I couldn't stand the pain. I don't find the side effects bothersome at all.

One of the drs I have seen that specializes in vulvo/vaginal disorders does not think you can get better without it. He may give it regularly or just for physio appts to decrease the pain. He does recommend physio with a therapist that can treat PFD patients.

What drs that are afraid to give it should realize is that, you are taking it for pain, not anxiety or some other psychological disorder. You may need to be on it for a long time, short time, or as needed.

In his interview on PFD Dr Robert Moldwin (IC dr) indicates that they now use it as first line defence for PFD. He also recommends 2 baths daily, avoiding constipation, etc.

Kathy

[TWINBURL]

I have lupus and sjogren's syndrome so the dr. that treats most of my condititions is my rheumatologist. He treats my ic because he thinks of it as autoimmune just as my lupus is.

He gave me a script for 5mg valium to take as needed about 6 months ago. He gave me a script for up to three a day so I can actually get 90 5mg tabs each month if I wanted to. I only take one each night before bed. It has helped so much with the pain and the spasms that I can't imagine not having it.

When he gave me the script I talked to him about being afraid of becomming addicted to it. His answer was, If you were a diabetic I would not take your insilun away from you. He considers it not addicted to the medicine but that you need it.

My dad has high blood pressure and has taken meds for it for 30 yrs. I consider it the same situation. Do I like taking it. No. Does it help me my answer is it has changed my quality of life.

I suppose that if there comes a time that the 5mg no longer works I will take a larger dose (which I hope doesn't happen) but you bet I would up my dose.

[elamar]

so far valium has been the best for me also. If you have a bad burning urethra, Librax worked well for that. I was on it for 6 weeks with good results, then it sort of faded out to where is just stopped working. I tried a new one that just arrived at my doctors office called amrix. It was terrible, caused bad retention for me. I take the 2 mg of valium 3 times a day. With such a low dosage, I'm not conviced we are going to have hardcore withrawl symptoms. Good luck in finding something to help.

[justice4j]

To my knowledge, Valium is the only true muscle relaxer. Flexaril, Soma, etc. are Central Nervous System depressants. There may be others that have come out on the market since 1994 when my nursing career was ended by disability

Have you read Dr. Brookoff's Q & A about intravaginal Valium? It's on the ICA site under Dr. Brookoff Q & A. It works very well for me and being on Dextramphetamine negates the sedative effect. I believe Jill also posted this on ICN as well. Can't remember where and I have a terrible virus right now or I would look.

The doses are higher - 10- 20 mg intravaginally 1-3 times per day. I have PFD too and it really helps me sleep at night. The Q & A is full of suggestions on what works as far as "home compounding" methods. You might print that out and discuss it with your doctor. It just might help.

[judy45]

I use vaginal suppositories for my PFD, there are absolutely no "loopy" or drowsy feelings. You just have to make sure you sit for about 10 min. after putting it in so it doesn't slip out. I love them. Just a thought

[tzatke]

This is my first post. I found the site this a.m. I got I.C. in the dark ages, when it was impossible to get a dx. After seeing twenty six docs I realized I'd have to find the answer myself. My symptoms were so severe I had suicidal ideation. After reading at the Harvard Medical School library, I found an article that led me to one of the few docs diagnosing i.c. He did a urodynami study and my pelvic floor "was like an elevator going up and down." His concern was I had MS and he sent me to a wonderful world famous neurologist. I was assured I did not have MS but did need a muscle relaxant. I had noticed, even before I was diagnosed, that Valium helped my symptoms.
I also am acutely senitive to meds. He recommended 10mg t.i.d. I was re about addiction (he wasn't) and was seeing a psychiatrist at the time because I was going nuts from i.c. So we made arrangements for him to write the scrip. I found that breaking it up was not as effective and so took the whole dose at bedtime. I did try some others: flexeril comes to mind--it literally had me walking into walls. And didn't work. Also, Valium has some neurological benefits recently found out. I have not held up a drugstore for more pills, I have gone days without taking it. At the time, it was really difficult to get docs to write it. They were offering me Oxycodone, but lecturing me on Valium addiction. The doc writing it has an international reputation. When he was out sick for nine months, a pharmacologist I see wrote it. I also see a neuro, who's a lot younger, and he was suprised that docs were so frightened of Valium.

[Claredale]

Thanks for joining tzatke! You are a wealth of great information already. My prior pharmacist's wife was diagnosed with IC over 40 years ago, so he was a great resource for my IC treatment. I wish I would have found him early in my diagnosis 20 years ago, which seems like an eternity as well. I was given Valium right after my diagnosis as well. My doctor never said that it was addictive either. That is why I am surprised when I read postings from people that say their doctors will not give them Valium. This is probably the first time in my years with IC that my doctor didn't prescribe valium. We are trying something new. I have been inserting 1 10mg valium (ground up & put in a capsule) in my vagina and taking one orally at night for a number of years. I have also been on Soma for quite a long time now. Another med that is said to be additive, but I only took it when I needed, so like you I wasn't "holding up any drugstores" (That's funny!). Anyway, I had an appt with my uro/gyno yesterday and I mentioned that I felt like my valium wasn't working as well anymore. I hadn't had a change in dosage since I started on it in 1988. I thought he would just say to insert both vaginally, but he suggested that I stop the valium all together and just insert the Soma vaginally. I am supposed to do it more than just at night, but that is the only time I feel my spasms, so that is the only time I took my Soma as well. Last night was marvelous. I thought for sure my body would be screaming at me because my husband and I are doing an overhaul on our flower beds, so I have been pushing myself at work all day, then going home and working in the flower beds. I fell asleep quite early in the evening and didn't even move when my husband came to bed. His nighttime ritual usually would wake me up because he always had to get our 2 dogs settled down too. But I didn't wake up until 12:30 and had some pain, so I got up and took my usual night time meds, went to the bathroom and was out until it was time to get up this morning. That hasn't happened for me in years! I hope it keeps working. I tried to find this treatment on the internet today, but never saw anything but taking the med orally, but my doctor hasn't led me wrong yet.

Thanks again for your wealth of information. We have a few that have had IC as you say "in the dark ages" and I always appreciate what y'all have gone through.

T83

[lindao76021]

I'm very frustrated with my present doc. He seems to give everyone the same treatment. Sunday, after I put down my granddaughter, I had pelvic floor spasms that made me double over. I was in pain all day. Me present doc won't even refill my script for darvocet unless I come in every 3 mo. I am going to a new doc next week.
Has everyone found that muscle relaxers really help? I don't sleep more than 2 1/2 hours at a time at night before I have to get up. Most of the time it's less than that. I'm about to go CRAZY! I only have a few days a month that I really hurt.
Thanks!:hi:

[Claredale]

Lindao, I think you will find that most doctors don't write pain scripts for more than 3 months after seeing their patient. They have to abide by the DEA rules. I have been on pain meds (Lortab) for over 12 years and sometimes my first uro would just do a call in but that was when I wasn't on them very much. When I went to a pelvic pain specialist after my IC progressed to severe, she would write my scrips for a 30 day supply plus 2 refills, so I had to come in. She moved to another city which was rough, but she referred me to another doctor that was a uro/gyno. For quite a while he only wrote mine for a month at a time, so I went to the doctor every month for my meds, but we were changing my meds so much for a while that I really needed to see him every month for much of that time. He has finally started writing them with 1 refill so I can wait make my appt every 2 months. There was a change with the DEA rules a few months ago, that was allowing them doctors to go back to 3 months.

I am also on muscle relaxers. They do help with some of my sleep issues. But I also take sleep meds since I have major insomnia unrelated to my IC. Right now I am having a couple issues because I have stopped one of my meds with my doctor permission. But that is getting much better.

I hope you find something to allow you to get some rest.

Hugs, Tracey

[Angeles]

I'v been on oral valium for a year...I can take up to 10 mg a day per my doc but I rarely do it, most of the time I just take 2.5 mg a day and sometimes 2.5 mg 2 times a day....I don't know if it is a matter of me being very concious that this is a medication that can cause addition... so I just don't abuse it.
The same way with pain killers. I have a bottle of Tramadol and another of Darvocet and I take tham only if truly needed.

Valium helps with anxiety too so it has double benefit. I'm not anxious everyday but if a have a "moment" I take it, and it helps a lot emotionally +
I also know that is helping my pelvic floor muscles...

It is over a year that I don't have a nervous breakdown, cry a lot etc...and that used to result in cold sores, or a bad cold and more IC pain so, valium helped me prevent all that!

On the other hand...I wouldn't like to be on oral valium fo the rest of my life so I want to explore the option of using it as a suppository. That seemsto help many of you!

[snowgirl]

This is my first post. I found the site this a.m. I got I.C. in the dark ages, when it was impossible to get a dx. After seeing twenty six docs I realized I'd have to find the answer myself. My symptoms were so severe I had suicidal ideation. After reading at the Harvard Medical School library, I found an article that led me to one of the few docs diagnosing i.c. He did a urodynami study and my pelvic floor "was like an elevator going up and down." His concern was I had MS and he sent me to a wonderful world famous neurologist. I was assured I did not have MS but did need a muscle relaxant. I had noticed, even before I was diagnosed, that Valium helped my symptoms.
I also am acutely senitive to meds. He recommended 10mg t.i.d. I was re about addiction (he wasn't) and was seeing a psychiatrist at the time because I was going nuts from i.c. So we made arrangements for him to write the scrip. I found that breaking it up was not as effective and so took the whole dose at bedtime. I did try some others: flexeril comes to mind--it literally had me walking into walls. And didn't work. Also, Valium has some neurological benefits recently found out. I have not held up a drugstore for more pills, I have gone days without taking it. At the time, it was really difficult to get docs to write it. They were offering me Oxycodone, but lecturing me on Valium addiction. The doc writing it has an international reputation. When he was out sick for nine months, a pharmacologist I see wrote it. I also see a neuro, who's a lot younger, and he was suprised that docs were so frightened of Valium.
Thanks for joining and sharing also. I am with Tracey and have had IC 22 going on 23 years. So, Tracey and I have a lot in common as far as IC being diagnosed back when they did not have elmiron even approved. 30 years for you with IC that is also a long time to have IC. Completely understand your 30 years of IC what has helped you best with your IC? Sounds like Valium works good for you. My family md gets weirded out about addiction on valium drugs like that. I only tried it last month. 5mg valium is alright 10mg valium and I can't pee!! I retain wit 10mg. I can take klonopin but refuse to that is a strong powerful drug on my body too strong and long lasting. Vicky

[anewday]

I started valium about a month ago, 5 mg at night. I don't think that before I realized how much I got up to urinate at night. For the first time in years, I am not having to take a nap almost every day. I always blamed my fatigue on Lupus, but I'm wondering if it was because I was not getting good sleep?

[Claredale]

For me valium hasn't caused retention at all. I have been on it for just about my entire life of IC. Never had to increase my dosage, actually the contrary, I just take it at night now. I take one 10 mg orally and grind up the other 10mg and insert vaginally. I have tried the vaginal suppositories. I found they were much more expensive because they have to be compounded and they are high on my insurance tier, so I wasn't reimbursed much. I also found that the compounding pharmacies in my area won't file my insurance, so I had to wait to be reimbursed unlike a regular pharmacy. They worked fine, but I was confined to lying down for about an hour or it would melt and pour out into my underwear. My doctor suggested that I insert the tablet vaginally and that evolved to me grinding it up. I used to put it in with lidocaine, now I put in it a capsule and insert it. Same benefit and much cheaper and easier to use.

I was able to adapt to the grogginess quite quickly. Most meds don't effect me by making me sleepy, so as long as I can deal with it for a few days or sometimes a week, I am fine. As Angeles says, I can take a valium sometimes when I know I will be dealing with a stressful time in my life, which can definitely effect my bladder. So when I take it during the day, I don't even get tired. I may not be able to focus as well, but I am able to function.

I did try to stop taking valium recently just because my symptoms have improved so much. I also take Soma, so I am now stopping the Soma and just using the valium vaginally at night. I don't know if it is because I have not needed to increase my meds that have an "addicting effect", but my doctor has never had any problems with prescribing the meds I need in order to manage my pain. With the help of some other meds, I have been able to never require longer acting meds or even increase the amount of my Lortab even back when flares were a constant part of my life. With everything I have read and I know plenty of people on here have discovered the same thing is that as long as you are taking the meds to manage your pain and symptoms you are not going to abuse your meds.

Now that my symptoms are improving, I am able to decrease and even eliminate my meds. This time last year I had up to 10 scripts I was taking. Now I have 5 and 2 of them I just use PRN. I was able to stop taking Elavil last winter, which was a another med I had been on since my diagnosis.



T83