18 Nov 2022
Muscle relaxers are meant to calm down the muscles, it is a very useful pain reliever in this age simultaneously constipation caused by muscle relaxer is also one of the growing concerns, and yes muscle relaxer like tizanidine cause constipation it is one of the side effects of it. Many people will have mixed review about because it differs from body to body.
While Tizanidine should be safely used by people with liver impairment, congestive heart failure as it can affect the health. Whereas a proper use can help in back pain, neck pain and other muscle pain.
Why Does Muscle Relaxant Cause Constipation?
Drug-induced constipation is a common condition that affects many people. Usually used for several things, including muscle relaxants and antidepressants.
Tizanidine causes constipation because of the contraction of the muscles, which lead to an inability to have bowel movements. Just like other drugs, it acts on receptors spread all over the body, and with desired effects of relieving pain and stiffness, it also gives some undesirable effects like constipation.
Constipation is a very common condition affecting millions of Americans, but it is more severe for women than men. The reason behind this is the slower movement of food in women's digestive tracts compared to men. According to statistics, 4 million Americans suffer from constipation every year.
How Does Muscle Relaxant Like Tizanidine Cause Constipation?
Tizanidine is a muscle relaxant used for treating pain. It acts as an alpha two agonist. The function of Alpha 2 agonist in the body is to reduce synaptic activity and relax the body, i.e., muscles, reduce blood pressure by relaxing blood vessels, and release stress conditions.
So Tizanidine blocks the nerve impulses responsible for transmitting pain and muscle contraction signals to the brain by inhibiting pre-synaptic signals from being transmitted. This leads to temporary relief from pain and stiffness of muscles. After explaining how it acts, it's easy to determine why it causes constipation.
The digestive system comprises smooth muscles, and alpha one and two receptors are radially available on these muscles. When an alpha agonist like Tizanidine acts, it causes the relaxing of muscles, due to which normal peristalsis movement of the bowel is affected and leads to constipation. In Constipation the bowel movement leads to slow or perhaps it takes more time hence the intestine gets more time to absorb water making the stool hard to move and pain. (Rxlist)
List Of Muscle Relaxants That Causes Constipation
Constipation is a common side effect of muscle relaxants. The most common muscle relaxants that cause constipation are:
- Baclofen
- Carisoprodol
- Cyclobenzaprine
- Dantrolene sodium
- Methocarbamol
- Metaxalone
Why Fiber Is Important In Digestion And Avoiding Constipation?
Fiber is important in digestion and preventing constipation. It helps in food through the digestive tract and prevents it from being absorbed into the body, which increases the bulk of stools and helps in easy excretion. The average person can intake up to 30 gms of fiber per day.
The recommended daily intake is between 20-35 grams a day. Everyone needs fiber, not just people with digestive disorders like celiac disease or irritable bowel syndrome. It's also important for healthy people because it helps regulate blood sugar and cholesterol levels and improves heart health, among other things.
Fiber comes in two types: soluble and insoluble. Soluble fiber is great for increasing the volume of stools, while insoluble fiber moves food along in the digestive tract by absorbing water as it goes. Roughage foods like vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and seeds are full of fibers readily digested by our bodies.
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Conclusion
Tizanidine is a non-opioid analgesic drug that blocks the action of the neurotransmitter substance, substance P. It is safe, effective, and well-tolerated in patients with chronic pain and acute pain.
Constipation is one of the side effects of Tizanidine, but proper dietary care, like eating fibrous food and eating fruits and veggies, will solve this problem.
