Is there a muscle relaxer that can be taken daily? What to know about long-term use

October 8, 2025 •

5 min read

While most muscle relaxers are intended only for short-term treatment of acute muscle spasms, some formulations and types are prescribed for daily use to manage chronic conditions. Navigating whether there is a muscle relaxer that can be taken daily requires understanding the specific medical need and potential risks involved.

Quick Summary

Several muscle relaxers can be dosed once daily, though most are not intended for long-term use due to risks of side effects and dependence. Specific types may be used daily for chronic spasticity from certain neurological conditions under strict medical supervision. Alternatives like physical therapy and NSAIDs offer non-addictive options.

Key Points

Not for most acute pain: Most muscle relaxers, including daily-dosed formulations like extended-release cyclobenzaprine, are only intended for short-term use (2-3 weeks) to treat acute muscle spasms.
Daily use for chronic spasticity: Certain muscle relaxers, such as tizanidine and baclofen, may be prescribed for daily, long-term use to manage chronic spasticity resulting from neurological conditions like MS or spinal cord injury.
Dosing does not equal duration: A medication like extended-release cyclobenzaprine is dosed once daily but is still for short-term use, contrasting with how some drugs are used for chronic conditions.
Significant risks involved: Long-term daily use of muscle relaxers increases the risk of side effects like dependence, cognitive impairment (drowsiness, memory issues), falls, and liver or kidney damage.
Tapering is often necessary: Abruptly stopping daily muscle relaxer therapy, especially for those on higher or longer-term doses, can cause significant withdrawal symptoms, so a slow tapering schedule is often required.
Alternatives are often safer for chronic pain: For chronic musculoskeletal pain, non-pharmacological alternatives like physical therapy, NSAIDs, massage, and exercise are often safer and more effective than long-term muscle relaxer use.

Daily Dosing vs. Long-Term Use: A Critical Distinction

When considering the question, "Is there a muscle relaxer that can be taken daily?", it's important to distinguish between daily dosing and long-term, chronic use. Some extended-release (ER) muscle relaxer formulations are designed to be taken once a day for convenience during a short-term treatment course for acute pain, typically lasting only a few weeks. However, other types of muscle relaxers are used daily over the long term to manage spasticity related to chronic neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) or cerebral palsy. The critical difference lies in the underlying condition being treated and the duration of therapy, which directly impacts the risks and benefits of the medication.

Muscle Relaxers That Can Be Taken Daily (Under Medical Guidance)

For certain chronic neurological conditions that cause spasticity (continuous muscle contraction), a healthcare provider may prescribe a muscle relaxer for ongoing daily use. This is very different from the common, short-term use of muscle relaxers for acute back or neck pain.

Here are some examples of medications that can be taken daily for specific conditions:

Extended-Release Cyclobenzaprine (Amrix): This once-daily capsule is used for short-term relief of muscle spasms, typically up to 2-3 weeks. While it is dosed daily, it is not approved for long-term use due to a lack of evidence for prolonged effectiveness and concerns about side effects. It is structurally similar to antidepressants and can cause significant sedation, especially in older adults.
Tizanidine (Zanaflex): This is a short-acting muscle relaxer used to manage spasticity. It is typically dosed multiple times a day (e.g., every 6-8 hours, as needed) but can be part of a daily regimen for chronic spasticity management. Tizanidine has a short duration of effect, which is why it is used for specific periods when relief from spasticity is most important. Daily doses can be carefully titrated, but side effects like drowsiness, dry mouth, and hypotension require careful monitoring.
Baclofen (Lioresal): Primarily an antispasticity agent, baclofen is used for long-term management of severe spasticity resulting from conditions like MS or spinal cord injuries. It is typically taken multiple times per day and requires slow, careful tapering when discontinuing to avoid withdrawal symptoms.
Dantrolene (Dantrium): Another antispasticity agent, dantrolene works directly on muscle fibers to reduce continuous muscle contraction and is suitable for daily use in chronic conditions.

Significant Risks of Long-Term Daily Use

Daily use of muscle relaxers, especially older centrally-acting agents, is associated with a range of health risks. This is why most prescriptions are limited to a duration of 2-3 weeks for acute injuries.

Some of the key risks include:

Dependence and Abuse: Certain muscle relaxers, like carisoprodol (Soma), have a high potential for abuse and dependence, similar to controlled substances. Even non-controlled substances can lead to physical or psychological dependence with prolonged use.
Cognitive Impairment: Side effects such as excessive drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, and memory problems are common. These can impair a person's ability to drive or operate machinery safely.
Organ Toxicity: Some muscle relaxers can cause liver and kidney strain, especially with long-term use. Regular monitoring is essential.
Withdrawal Symptoms: Stopping daily muscle relaxer therapy abruptly can trigger withdrawal reactions, including anxiety, tremors, hallucinations, or rebound hypertension and tachycardia.
Increased Risk of Falls: The sedative effects of muscle relaxers can increase the risk of falls, particularly in older adults.

Alternatives to Daily Muscle Relaxer Therapy

For many chronic painful conditions, there is limited evidence to support the long-term effectiveness of muscle relaxers. A comprehensive pain management plan often involves non-pharmacological alternatives and other medication classes.

Physical Therapy: Strengthening and stretching exercises, manual therapy, and other physical modalities can address the root cause of muscle pain and improve function.
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): Medications like ibuprofen and naproxen can reduce pain and inflammation without the high sedative or dependence risks of muscle relaxers.
Massage and Heat/Ice Therapy: These can provide localized relief from muscle tension and spasms.
Mind-Body Techniques: Practices like yoga, meditation, and relaxation exercises can help manage chronic pain and associated stress.
Magnesium Supplements: Low magnesium levels have been linked to muscle cramps and may be improved with supplementation.
Other Prescription Medications: For nerve-related pain (e.g., sciatica), medications like gabapentin may be considered.

Comparison of Common Muscle Relaxers


Feature	Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril, Amrix)	Tizanidine (Zanaflex)	Baclofen (Lioresal)
Mechanism	Acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to reduce nerve impulses that cause spasms.	Acts as an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist in the CNS to increase presynaptic inhibition of motor neurons.	Acts on the CNS in a manner similar to GABA to manage spasticity.
Primary Use	Acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions (strains, sprains).	Spasticity associated with MS or spinal cord injury.	Severe spasticity from MS or spinal cord injury.
Intended Duration	Short-term (2-3 weeks).	Short-term for activities, but can be used long-term for chronic spasticity.	Long-term for chronic spasticity.
Daily Dosage Form	Extended-release capsule available for once-daily dosing.	Tablets/capsules taken multiple times daily, though can be for ongoing use.	Tablets/intrathecal pump, taken multiple times daily.
Key Side Effects	High sedation, dry mouth, dizziness, fatigue.	Drowsiness, dry mouth, low blood pressure, liver function changes.	Sedation, dizziness, fatigue, weakness.
Dependence Risk	Lower than some, but still possible with prolonged use.	Potential for withdrawal symptoms if stopped abruptly.	High potential for dependence; slow tapering required.

Conclusion: When is Daily Use Appropriate?

The answer to "Is there a muscle relaxer that can be taken daily?" is nuanced and depends on the underlying medical condition. For acute, temporary pain, the use of muscle relaxers, even daily-dosed extended-release versions, should be limited to short periods (2-3 weeks). For chronic conditions like spasticity resulting from neurological disorders (e.g., MS, spinal cord injury), certain muscle relaxers like tizanidine or baclofen may be used daily as part of a long-term treatment plan under careful medical supervision. The potential for side effects, dependence, and impaired cognitive function means that daily or long-term use is not appropriate for everyone and should always be a carefully considered decision made with a healthcare provider. Exploring safer, non-pharmacological alternatives like physical therapy should be a priority for chronic pain management where muscle relaxers are not explicitly indicated for daily use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, an extended-release version of cyclobenzaprine (Amrix) is dosed once daily. However, it is intended for short-term use, typically not exceeding 2 to 3 weeks, for acute muscle spasms. Long-term daily use is not recommended due to side effect risks.

Yes, tizanidine is often used daily to manage chronic spasticity associated with neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury. It is a short-acting drug dosed multiple times per day and requires careful medical supervision.

Most muscle relaxers are intended for short-term use because the pain they treat is often temporary. Long-term use increases the risk of serious side effects, including dependence, sedation, cognitive issues, and potential organ damage.

Common side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, and fatigue. More serious risks can include dependence, cognitive impairment, liver damage, and falls, particularly in older adults.

Recent studies show mixed results on the effectiveness of muscle relaxers for chronic low back pain, with evidence suggesting limited benefit compared to placebo. Alternatives like physical therapy are often recommended.

Alternatives include physical therapy, over-the-counter pain relievers like NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen), massage therapy, magnesium supplements, and mind-body techniques like stretching and yoga.

Yes, particularly with certain types like carisoprodol (Soma), which is a controlled substance with a high potential for abuse and dependence. Prolonged use of many muscle relaxers can lead to physical dependence.