Management of Costochondritis

Evidence Against Muscle Relaxants

• Although muscle relaxants may relieve skeletal muscle pain, their effects are nonspecific and not related to muscle relaxation, according to the American Geriatrics Society 1
• Guidelines from the American Geriatrics Society emphasize that muscle relaxants should not be prescribed in the mistaken belief that they relieve muscle spasm 1
• For older persons specifically, many of these drugs may be associated with greater risk for falls, as noted by the American Geriatrics Society 1
• The American Geriatrics Society guidelines suggest that muscle relaxants are not effective for musculoskeletal pain, and their use may lead to unnecessary medication side effects, including sedation and fall risk 1