Cyclobenzaprine Flexeril Side Effects & Interactions

Another rare side effect is an allergic reaction to the drug, manifested by hives and trouble breathing. Tell your care team if your symptoms do not start to get better or if they get worse. Talk to your care team about the use of this medication in children. Animal studies don’t always predict the way humans would respond.

Using Muscle Relaxants in Chronic Pain – Medscape

Using Muscle Relaxants in Chronic Pain.

Posted: Fri, 27 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Many people believe that Flexeril is a narcotic similar to other painkillers like OxyContin, Fentanyl, or Vicodin based on how it makes you feel alone. However, the truth is cyclobenzaprine belongs to a separate class of chemicals known as a muscle relaxant. Rather than activating opioid receptors like other prescription painkillers, Flexeril instead blocks certain nerve impulses that are sent to the brain. Just because cyclobenzaprine isn’t an opioid though doesn’t mean it hasn’t become a substance of abuse.

Flexeril: Narcotic or Not?

In this study cyclobenzaprine (10mg/d) failed to significantly improve sleep in the short term but this may have been due to the relatively low dose employed. The usual dose is 5–10mg three times daily and treatment for more than 2–3 weeks is not recommended. Skeletal muscle relaxants are prescription medications commonly used to treat muscle pain and muscle spasms. If you have back pain or have suffered a strain or sprain, your healthcare provider may offer you a skeletal muscle relaxant such as methocarbamol (Robaxin) or cyclobenzaprine (Fexmid, Amrix). You might be surprised to see Naprosyn on this list, being that it is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) commonly used for musculoskeletal conditions and not a muscle relaxant. The reason is that NSAIDs have more evidence to back their effectiveness, particularly for back pain, no pun intended.

Tizanidine was shown to be effective for spasticity due to multiple sclerosis.
However, they have differences in how they’re used and formulated.
In addition, these drugs have not been proven to be superior to acetaminophen or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for low back pain.
Do not increase your dose or use this drug more often or for longer than prescribed.
On the other hand, cyclobenzaprine is generally not prescribed for longer than two or three weeks.

Cyclobenzaprine is in a class of medications called skeletal muscle relaxants. It works by acting in the brain and nervous system to allow the muscles to relax. The combination of Flexeril and alcohol can cause serious problems in the central nervous system, the consequences of which may end up being fatal. The problem with combining Flexeril and alcohol comes from the fact that both of these drugs are actually central nervous system (CNS) depressants. That means that both Flexeril and alcohol have a tendency to slow down the body’s natural processes. One of the most important bodily processes that these two drugs can end up impacting is respiration.

It is structurally similar to the tricyclic antidepressants and adverse effects similar to those seen with the tricyclic antidepressants are therefore to be expected. Patients with low back pain or fibromyalgia may benefit from treatment with cyclobenzaprine. Higher doses of cyclobenzaprine or tizanidine would be appropriate to promote sedation in cases of more severe discomfort or perceived muscular spasm. Although there can i take flexeril with advil appears to be insufficient data on metaxalone and methocarbamol, these may be useful in patients who cannot tolerate the sedative properties of cyclobenzaprine or tizanidine. Of note, methocarbamol costs substantially less than metaxalone. Skeletal muscle relaxants are often prescribed for musculoskeletal conditions including low back pain, neck pain, fibromyalgia, tension headaches, and myofascial pain syndrome.

The activity of Flexeril that depresses the Central Nervous System (CNS) makes it potentially addictive and dangerous. If you are taking another medication that also causes drowsiness, you may have more side effects. Call emergency for help if you have problems breathing or unusual sleepiness. This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions.

DRUGS AND MEDICATIONS CENTER

Dialysis is probably of no value because of low plasma concentrations of the drug. As management of overdose is complex and changing, it is recommended that the physician contact a poison control center for current information on treatment. At oral doses of up to 10 times the human dose, cyclobenzaprine did not adversely affect the reproductive performance or fertility of male or female rats.

Why I’m Giving Several MS Medications Another Try – Multiple Sclerosis News Today

Why I’m Giving Several MS Medications Another Try.

Posted: Fri, 24 Jun 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Fexmid is a brand name tablet that comes in a 7.5 mg tablet. Amrix is an extended-release capsule that can be taken once daily in a 15 mg – 30 mg dose. At-home remedies like cold and heat therapy, and manual therapies like physical therapy and chiropractic care may have therapeutic effects for pain. Steroid, anesthetic, or radiofrequency denervation injections may be necessary to combat some forms of pain and inflammation.

What do I Need to Know About Taking Flexeril?

You should have the medical advice of the prescribing healthcare professional before starting or stopping one of these drugs. Brand-name oral Robaxin is not available anymore in the United States, but its generic version, methocarbamol, is still available and in use. Like cyclobenzaprine, methocarbamol is considered an antispasmodic skeletal muscle relaxant. They exert their effect by acting on the central nervous system (CNS), namely the brain. Both methocarbamol and cyclobenzaprine have serious adverse effects to be wary of. They can cause drowsiness, unsteadiness, and blurred vision, which all contribute to a heightened risk of falls and other injuries.

As a result, the cyclobenzaprine high can actually end up leading to the development of addictions to other drugs as well. Physical therapy can help with back pain, knee pain, and neck pain. Especially in the case of back pain, physical therapy is an effective first-line treatment.