Why do I have such an affinity for these things?

EVERYDAY, for years, when you're in so much pain, you wanna rip your spine right out of your back, when you can feel your every pulse pump through your lower back, when you're in so much pain sometimes you see white, when you can't sit, stand, lay down, bend over, or SLEEP...you take one little pill...and all of these things never happen, it all vanishes, you can actually feel normal....

that is why some people seem to like/need them

^

Yes.

But, there are others who need them due to habituation or addiction as well. But I am not sure which category cello.on is referring to...

All I know is I have been taking Ibuprofen for about two weeks for this muscle thing going on in my back... wish I had a quaalude...

I think #2 pretty much nailed it. I just find it amazing that a little pill can change everything, like stepping through a portal into another world.

^

Opiates are an amazing thing when one truly needs them.

Took a Flexeril (muscle relaxant; 10mg) for the first time a couple weeks ago. Knocked me out for TWO days, but relieved my condition for a couple weeks, but it is resuming. Think I may only take just half next time.

I thinke 5mg 3x/day is the starting dosage and that, depending on the response, 10mg 3x/day may be called for. One 10mg tablet knocked you out for two days? What else did you take? Did you have anything to drink? Or, are you just sensitive to this type of drug? You may fin it interesting, but as far as muscle relaxants go, 10mg of Flexeril is still a "middle of the road" muscle relaxant. Drugs like Somma and Baclofen are much stronger, while Skelaxin and Robaxin are less powerful and may not even cause drowsiness (or work). The "old-time" standard muscle relaxant is Valium. How does that effect you?

Only muscle relaxant I ever took. Never had a Valium.

"Take 1 tablet by mouth every night at bedtime as needed for pain spasm no driving"

I took it at night, but could not stay awake the next day. I was falling asleep while standing! The 2nd day after, I was still devoid of any energy, and still took several sound naps.

I did not like that effect. Took care of my symptom well enough (which is returning), but I don't want to be a zombie for a couple days.

So, Find out how long its active metabolites stay in your body and how to eliminate them..

^How do I do that?