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Mix anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxant?

Page last modified on: September 19, 2008

Question from Cindy: Is it okay to take an anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxer, and pain medication (like Vicodin) at the same time?: Answer —Neal Slatkin, M.D.: First of all, I'd like to clarify that there are no anti-inflammatory muscle relaxers. There are anti-inflammatory agents and there are muscle relaxants. Most muscle relaxants work by relaxing the brain, and, therefore, relaxing the muscle. There are some exceptions to that.

In terms of combining anti-inflammatory agents in medications such as Tylenol, for example, one has to be wary of causing abnormalities to kidney function. Many cancer patients have or develop problems with their kidneys, particularly if they're actively receiving certain types of chemotherapy. For those individuals, it's important to combine medications only when necessary and, if that occurs, to have their kidney and liver function monitored at appropriate intervals.

On Wednesday, January 21, 2004, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Pain Management: Getting the Relief YOU Need. Neal Slatkin, M.D., Michelle Rhiner, N.P. and moderator Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. answered your questions about the best ways to deal with the physical pain and discomforts associated with breast cancer and breast cancer treatment.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Neal Slatkin, M.D. is director of supportive care services and associate professor in the department of neurology at the City of Hope Cancer Center in Duarte, California.

Michelle Rhiner, N.P. is patient coordinator and department manager in the department of supportive care and palliative medicine at the City of Hope Cancer Center.

Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. is a medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of breast cancer, with a a special interest in cancer survivorship, patient-physician communication, and quality of care for women with breast cancer.