Drug Treatment of Backache
Muscle Relaxants
Muscle relaxants are medicines which reduce muscle spasm. Limiting muscle spasm reduces pain and improves the range of motion. These agents are generally used in combination with an analgesic/anti-inflammatory agent.
Side effect
Sedation is the most commonly reported adverse effect of muscle relaxant medications. These drugs should be used with caution by patients driving motor vehicles or operating heavy machinery. If drowsiness is felt in the daytime, muscle relaxants should be taken at bedtime so that the patient can sleep comfortable at night and have minimum drowsiness during daytime.
Tramadol hydrochloride
A relatively newer pain relieving drug, it has very powerful action, comparable to that of morphine, but does not have the latter’s addictive property. Tramadol hydrochloride can be used during the acute phase of back pain. Sustained-release tablets are also available and are beneficial in those patients who have fluctuating pain.
