Muscle relaxer and OSA

[sleepnasta]

I strained my neck and upper back really badly this morning. It hurts to even walk, sit up, lie down. I can't get comfortable. My husband is taking me to the dr this afternoon. I'm thinking he might prescribe a muscle relaxers. Are those safe to take with OSA?

[chunkyfrog]

Mention your apnea to the doctor.

[zoocrewphoto]

Probably depends on the type. I take flexeril for back pain sometimes. Long before I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, though definitely while I have had it since I have probably had sleep apnea for at least 10-15 years.

Both my primary doctor and my sleep doctor know that I take muscle relaxers on occasion. I'm guessing it was not good when I was untreated, but probably doesn't make much of a difference now since I am still usually under an ahi of 2 even when I take one.

I do include it on my list of medications, and last week when I had my dental extractions, I asked the dentist if it was okay to take the night before. I don't sleep well before things like that, and I was desperate to get my blood pressure down. If it was too high, they would not do the extractions. If I don't sleep well, my blood pressure gets worse than the readings they didn't like during the exam. But I also wanted to make sure that it would not interact with any medications they would be using on me.

[kaiasgram]

I agree with the frog about mentioning it to your doctor. FWIW, I was on cpap for several months before I started taking flexeril for bad low back pain. I see absolutely no difference in my AHI (I take a super low dose).

This sort of thing is another reason why all apnea patients should be prescribed data capable machines, so we can reassure both ourselves and our doctors that our therapy isn't compromised (or sometimes is) when something changes or we take a new med. My primary was at first reluctant to prescribe the flexeril because of my apnea but when I told her that my AHI is now well managed and that I watch it regularly she felt it was reasonable to prescribe. Thank goodness because it helps take the edge off enough for me to sleep through the pain.

[Janknitz]

It's another good argument for why we should all have autopaps, too, because pressure needs can change when we are taking meds like that. I've been taking Flexeril this week and waking more often because of back pain. I haven't checked my AHI, but I have had to hit the ramp button a few times because I was blasting away at max pressure. So I suspect it's higher on Flexeril.

[zoocrewphoto]

This is a really good point, and might help somebody convince their doctor that they should get an apap and/or full data machine. Medications can alter our pressure needs, and it would be nice if our machines could adapt to those changes and also let us know whether a medication is affecting our treatment or not.

I don't use the flexeril on a regular basis. But I do use it when my sciatic nerve acts up (it gets pinched my a muscle that won't relax without help). I also use it when I travel as the beds are different and I tense a lot when I sleep. And also if I have a few bad nights in a row and really need to have a good night.

[jencat824]

I take Zanaflex, all my drs aware of this. I didn't know it could affect my pressure like that, but plan to discuss next visit with my neurologist.
Jen

[RandyJ]

My AHI is usually between 0 and 1. On Flexeril it's 11.

[rjm]

I am using a muscle relaxer now along with a pain reliever. It does not cause any problems for me, just relaxes me. I am still able to use my cpap.