Muscle Relaxer Gave Me Major Anxiety

[_Magpie]

After straining some muscles, my doctor prescribed me muscle relaxers to ease the pain and tension. After using them for a week, my anxiety went through the roof once the muscle relaxer wore off. Best I can guess is that because the muscle relaxers work to calm your central nervous system much lower than my body is used to, once the med wore off, I got rebound anxiety. Yay. 

I spent a week with my resting heart rate between 105-115. I wound up going to the ER because I felt so rundown and exhausted. They said I was dehydrated and gave me fluids. Next day I felt even worse despite hydrating, so I went back to the ER. They put me on a beta blocker to finally bring the heart rate down.

I'm angry that a stupid medication threw my whole world upside down. I'm just so frustrated because my mind doesn't feel anxious, but my body is clearly responding to some perceived threat. Just wondering if anyone has any experience with muscle relaxers giving them anxiety and suggestions on how to bring the body anxiety down.

[AphoticAtramentous]

I understand your frustrations. I haven't tried muscle relaxers specifically but I have had other medications make my anxiety far worse - made it feel like my heart was going to give out any second. The main solace is there are at least usually various types of medications for each goal, so if one doesn't work out for you, there's usually a second or third option you can try in the future. But it always feel so dangerous to trial these things...
I would suggest the typical grounding exercises but since the anxiety is medically induced I'm not sure how effective that would be. :\ Honestly, my new tactic is to just avoid medications where possible (unless I absolutely need it, or it's very safe like ibuprofen). Don't have any real advice though, sorry. Just wishing you well, and sorry your week has been so exhausting, Magpie. Hope the beta blockers helped.

Regards,
Aphotic.

[Kizzie]

I have a boat load of medications, prescription and non-prescription that I react to with anxiety.  One is muscle relaxers (although I don't calm at all, I just become anxious/agitated).  Another one I discovered this year is eye drops that have steroids in them. Four drops a day and by day 3 I am having weird thoughts and dreams.  Fortunately my optometrist is aware steroids can cause people to react even in fairly small doses (16% of the population he told me).  My GP is aware of this as is my psychiatrist so we go very carefully with any kind of meds.   

Crazy, but that's how many of us with CPTSD roll.  Our systems are sensitive and different from the norm in a lot of ways.  It's likely you will need to titrate meds to see how you go. Most professionals seem to have some knowledge of reactions to meds so perhaps let those treating you know and hopefully they will respect that and work to help you find meds that don't send you into an anxiety attack.

[StartingHealing]

Hi Magpie,

I savvy having medications cause side effects like anxiety.  As a general rule I don't use any beyond like aspirin.  Depending on which muscles, I've found a horse liniment that does wonders. Made by absorbine.  I get the gel of it because it's easier to apply. Warning way more powerful than ben-gay, wash hands twice with dish detergent and do not touch any sensitive areas for at least 15 minutes. Or use nitrile gloves.  Hot baths and soak with Epsom salts. warm foot baths with epsom salt is also nice.   For general anxiety, lavender essential oil is a go to, (find something that calms and relaxes you specifically, could be that an essential oil that is stimulating to others will have a calming effect on you) a cuppa green tea, belly breathing, there are pressure points like rubbing the entirety of the outer part of your ears that are calming, The belly breathing and ear massage stimulate the vargus nerve which calms things down.  Repeating a mantra along the lines of " I am safe in this moment" for me is beneficial.

Wishing you all the best

[Saluki]

Hey Magpie,
I had a really bad reaction to a muscle relaxant I was prescribed for fibromyalgia. It made my throat swell up to the point I couldn't breathe easily, but not so bad I had to go to hospital.
It's so frustrating, isn't it, that something works then does the opposite (I can't take any type of benzodiazipines for anxiety, because exactly what you described happens after they wear off).
I have that "my body feels anxious but my mind doesn't" a lot.
I'm sorry I don't have any suggestions that haven't been mentioned by others, apart from hops. My partner bought me some dried hop cones and lavender oil and put them in a small cloth bag. I sleep better with my bag of hops and lavender and I'm the most anxious and restless at night, so I'm guessing it does help!