Patient-Friendly Explanation

Muscle relaxants are medicines that ease muscle spasms and pain. They often make people drowsy, which lowers daily activity, and drowsiness can also increase appetite. Any weight gain is usually gradual and comes from eating more and moving less rather than from the medicine itself.

Clinical Definition

Centrally acting muscle relaxants such as baclofen, tizanidine, carisoprodol and orphenadrine cause sedation, dizziness and fatigue. Tizanidine and baclofen can also increase appetite and cause fluid retention. Reduced mobility and disrupted sleep during painful musculoskeletal episodes compound positive energy balance. These agents require tapering rather than abrupt withdrawal.

Why It Matters

Pain and inactivity together are a common reason weight creeps back after successful loss. Our doctors at NuLifeCare Singapore review pain medicines alongside a personalised activity plan.