Muscle relaxers generally start to take effect within 30 minutes to an hour after taking them, depending on the specific medication. Pain relief typically peaks around 1 to 3 hours after the dose and lasts from 4 to 24 hours, again depending on the drug used.
Onset Times for Common Muscle Relaxers
- Cyclobenzaprine: Begins working in about 30 to 60 minutes, with peak effects in 4 to 8 hours.
- Methocarbamol: Starts working around 30 minutes, peaking at 1 to 2 hours.
- Carisoprodol: Effects start in about 30 minutes, peak in 1 to 2 hours.
- Tizanidine: Takes 1 to 2 hours to take effect, peak at 2 hours.
- Baclofen: Begins working within 1 hour, peak in 2 to 3 hours.
Duration of Effects
- These medications typically last between 4 to 6 hours, although some like cyclobenzaprine can have effects lasting up to 24 hours depending on the formulation and dosage.
Additional Information
The actual time until a muscle relaxer works can depend on factors such as an individual's metabolism, age, liver and kidney function, dosage, and whether the drug is an immediate or extended-release formulation. Also, muscle relaxers often cause drowsiness or sedation, which can be a sign they are working. In summary, muscle relaxers usually start providing relief within 30 minutes to an hour, with peak effects occurring within a few hours, and their effect duration generally ranges from 4 to 24 hours depending on the medication and individual factors.
