Can You Take Muscle Relaxers While Pregnant? Yes, BUT…

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While some pain is normal during pregnancy, muscle spasms can be painful and discomforting. No words can explain the excruciating pain in your legs, back, or abdomen, which strikes suddenly and disappears within seconds.

Luckily, various prescription and over-the-counter medicine for managing pain/discomfort are available. But is the regular taking of muscle relaxers a safe alternative? Can You Take Muscle Relaxer While Pregnant?

In this blog post, learn about using muscle relaxers during pregnancy and other tips to relieve muscle spasms pain.

can you take a muscle relaxer while pregnant

So, Can You Take Muscle Relaxers While Pregnant?

Muscle Relaxers could be taken during pregnancy if it’s recommended or suggested by a doctor.

Some muscle relaxers have been tested and confirmed safe in pregnancy, while little information is known about others. Cyclobenzaprine is likely to be harmless to you and your unborn baby. For other brands such as Carisoprodol, Methocarbol, and Metaxalone, seek advice from your doctor to avoid exposure to potential harm.

Are you worried about endless muscle spasms? Relax. It’s a common complaint in over half of pregnant women. Also known as ‘Charlie horse, ‘Muscle spasms most commonly occur in your back, abdomen, or feet/calf.

It’s okay to seek relief from stiff, painful, tensed muscles which could briefly interfere with your daily life. Nevertheless, remember you’re vulnerable, calling for extra caution. Most muscle relaxers act on your central nervous system by inhibiting the transmission of neurons to the brain, reducing muscle contraction.

Taking pregnancy-safe painkillers, including Tylenol, is safer to relieve the discomfort before considering muscle relaxants loaded with dangerous side effects. Sadly, medications are the main culprits linked to the 3% of congenital disabilities in newborns every year.

Diazepam is an effective muscle relaxer, but research has linked it to preterm births, low birth weight, breathing problems, and cleft lips/palates. So, before taking muscle relaxers while pregnant, let your doctor guide you.

What Causes Muscle Spasms During Pregnancy?

The question, “can I take muscle relaxers while pregnant? “ is very popular in most parenting forums. That said, it’s crucial to understand what triggers the cramping so that you can find appropriate solutions.

Some causes of muscle spasms include:

  1. Overusing muscles – It’s not uncommon to experience strain on your muscles, ligaments, and joints while pregnant. This will likely worsen during the second and third trimesters due to your growing baby. As your body utilizes the muscles to support the additional weight, they get overwhelmed, leading to contractions.
  2. Nerve compression/contraction –Body fluids often increase during pregnancy, exerting pressure on your nerves. This is so, especially in muscles around your arms (brachial plexus), legs (sciatica), wrists, and groin. The compression translates to discomforting muscle pain in these pressured areas.
  3. Dehydration – Failure to take enough water and fresh fluids may cause random, involuntary contractions of the thigh, calf, uterine and abdominal muscles. Muscle spasms and stomach cramps are among the main signs that you’re suffering from dehydration.

According to experts, during dehydration, your body stores water for vital organs first, including the heart and kidneys. This leaves muscles, ligaments, and the digestive system without enough water/electrolytes, causing pain and cramping.

  1. Under-stretching or overstretching muscles before and after exercises – Stretching before and after any activity is good practice. It relaxes stiff and sore muscles, alleviating cramping in your legs, hips, back, neck, or abdomen. While it’s important to stretch after workouts, mind your limits. Avoid under or overstretching as it can harm your muscles

5. Unusual blood circulation – During pregnancy, you may experience a change in blood circulation. This causes increased blood flow to some body parts – such as your uterus – and a decreased volume in others, including your legs, back, and arms. The areas with low blood flow are likely to experience cramping when undertaking most daily activities.

6. Deprivation of essential minerals – A pregnant woman’s body requires lots of minerals and vitamins to share with the developing baby. According to The  National Library of Medicine (NIH), calcium and magnesium deficiency could cause that sharp pain that strikes your calf/legs, especially at night.

Muscle pain and cramping in pregnancy could be due to one or more of the above reasons. If the condition is recurrent, you’ll require an urgent, proper medical diagnosis and treatment.

The good news is that this discomfort subsides with time toward your delivery due date. Muscle spasms can be managed effectively by using home remedies.

Which Are Safe Muscle Relaxers To Take While Pregnant?

After discussing the causes of muscle cramping on your legs, hips, wrists, or abdomen,  I’m sure you’re wondering, “Can you take any muscle relaxers while pregnant?” Well, not all muscle pain medications are good for you during this phase.

Some safe muscle relaxers are as follows:

Cyclobenzaprine

This is a type of drug that works by acting on your brain, which in return relaxes the stressed muscles without interfering with their normal muscle functioning.

Several clinical studies found it harmless to the mother or baby. However, getting a prescription from your doctor before taking cyclobenzaprine is best.

While no research confirms these drugs as unsafe, there’s scanty information explaining whether they are safe for you and your munchkin. 

Some of these also have varying safety information and should be taken under your doctor’s supervision. Such brands include:

  • Carisoprodol 
  • Metaxalone
  • Methocarbamol
  • Tinazidine
  • Dantrolene (dantrium)
  • Orphenadrine

Most of the above muscle relaxers reduce muscle contraction by starting with your central nervous system. If taken incorrectly, they may bring adverse effects such as dizziness, fatigue, muscle weakness, stomach upset, depression, and low blood pressure.

Are There Non-Medical Remedies For Alleviating Muscle Spasms?

Taking medication during pregnancy should be a last resort. Natural or home remedies are the best and safest when treating any condition. 

What are some of the natural alternatives for managing muscle spasms? Let’s review the options below:

  1. Heat therapy – Use a heating pad to apply heat to the pained muscles. This helps in soothing inflammation in your muscles and improving blood circulation to stiff muscles. Be careful not to place the pad directly on your skin, as it may result in shock or trauma.
  2. Cold compressing – Placing an ice pack on your paining leg, neck, or back muscles is effective in easing pain and swelling. If you don’t have ice packs, put a clean cloth in cold water, wring, and place it over the pain area. A bottle filled with cold water also does the trick.
  1. Massages – A gentle massage often has a soothing effect on pain, including muscle spasms. First, locate the exact pain area before gently rubbing it in circular motions.

While doing so, listen to your body. If the pain drastically increases, it’s an indication there’s something you aren’t doing right. Remember to massage nearby muscles too.

  1. Hydration – Take lots of clean plain water (8-12 cups daily) or fresh fruit juices to boost your body fluids. Electrolyte water also works fine. Providing all body organs with adequate fluids greatly relaxes muscles and tissues. A yellow color in your urine indicates dehydration, meaning you should take more fluids immediately.
  2. Stretching – Do yoga or regular stretching exercises before or after undertaking physical activities. Stretching is an effective remedy for sciatic, back, and abdomen muscles. Additionally, stretches relieve stress and tension from your body muscles, making the muscle pain feel better.
  3. Warm baths – Aside from relaxing your mind, a warm bath soothes sore, stiff, painful, and swollen muscles. Further, adding some Epsom salt to your bathing water is a tested method of treating leg cramps, back pain, and muscle spasms. A warm bath improves blood circulation and oxygen supply to your body, but ensure the water isn’t too hot.
  4. Improve your calcium and magnesium intake – Take lots of calcium-rich fruits and vegetables. Natural seeds and nuts such as almonds and peanuts are also rich sources of magnesium. There are also plenty of pregnancy-safe calcium and magnesium supplements that you can take to reduce muscle spasms.

For one or several of these remedies to work, ensure consistency and patience. You can try new methods anytime, but be easy on yourself. 

Additionally, remember what works for one person may not be effective for the next. 

Always share your worries, fears, and struggles with a medical professional for professional advice. The muscle problems get worse in the second and third trimesters. They’ll most likely be over after delivery.

Wrapping Up

Pains and muscle spasms are common complaints among pregnant moms. So, “can you take a muscle relaxer while pregnant?”  OR, in other words, “can pregnant women take muscle relaxers?”

Muscle relaxers effectively treat muscle contractions, but only specific ones are safe during pregnancy.

Most muscle relaxers treat pain by acting on the brain or nervous system, hence the need for medical prescription. 

They could pose risks, including low blood pressure, depression, fatigue, nausea, stomach upset, and loss of body movement.

Pregnancy-safe pain meds like Tylenol are effective pain relievers for muscle spasms. 

Instead of using muscle relaxers, try natural remedies such as cold compressing, heat therapy, hydration, boosting calcium/magnesium supplements, stretching, and massages.

If the muscle spasms get worse, talk to your doctor immediately.

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