How to Use Prescription Drugs to Treat Muscle Strain

The use of prescription drugs to treat muscle strain is usually reserved for more severe cases, especially ones where surgery may be required. Since a muscle strain involves the actual tearing of a muscle from the tendon, the use of an appropriate muscle relaxant and painkiller can be extremely effective in reducing movement and increasing the rate of recovery.

Things You'll Need

• Prescription painkiller and/or muscle relaxant
• Doctor's supervision

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Instructions

Use Prescription Drugs to Treat a Muscle Strain

• 1

  Seek medical help to determine the severity of the muscle strain and whether or not prescription drugs should be used.

• 2

  Consult with the physician whether you will need a combination of a painkiller and a muscle relaxant, or just one of the two. The treatment options, of course, will vary according to the degree of the muscle strain.

• 3

  Use a muscle relaxant such as Soma (****), which is the most commonly prescribed drug used to treat muscle strain. You can learn more about the drug at the DRCNet Drug Library (see Resources below). Be aware that most muscle relaxants have a variety of side effects, especially drowsiness and dizziness. You should not drive or operate heavy machinery while using most muscle relaxants, so check with your doctor.

• 4

  Ask about using an additional painkiller or analgesic medication if you are in a lot of pain. Many doctors will advise you to use ibuprofen, which can be purchased over the counter, but stronger versions are available at prescription strength if needed.

• 5

  Continue with all other therapies, such as ice packs, compression and physical rehabilitation, while using prescription medication. Many patients can be too dependent upon the positive results they receive from medication and fail to stick to a more comprehensive treatment plan.

• 6

  Utilize online sources like eMedicine.com for more information on treatment options for muscle strains (see Resources below).