Cyclobenzaprine Flexeril Side Effects, Interactions, Uses, Dosage, Warnings

Another telltale sign of Flexeril addiction is abusing the medication in combination with another substance to produce a greater sense of euphoria. Alcohol is commonly abused alongside muscle relaxers like Flexeril because the substances amplify each others’ effects, causing the individual to experience a more intense sedation or high. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), patients should avoid use of monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors within 14 days of cyclobenzaprine use. Seizures and even death have occurred in patients who have cyclobenzaprine or other structurally similar tricyclic antidepressants with MAO inhibitor drugs. This is a drug that isn’t usually considered one of the more common drugs people need to recover from. However, overcoming any addiction can be an incredibly trying process.

Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) is amuscle relaxer prescribed for pain related to muscle spasms and muscle injuries. It’s also a prescription drug that can put you at risk for overdose as well as cardiac arrest, seizures, and other dangerous effects when abused. Flexeril is prescribed to treat short-term pain and discomfort that stems from muscle injuries, including strains, sprains, and spasms. It is usually used in conjunction with physical therapy.

Call your doctor or local poison control center if you think you’ve taken too much of this drug. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately if your symptoms are severe. Eight double-blind controlled clinical studies were performed in 642 patients comparing FLEXERIL 10 mg, diazepam, and placebo. Muscle spasm, local pain and tenderness, limitation of motion, and restriction in activities of daily living were evaluated. In three of these studies there was a significantly greater improvement with FLEXERIL than with diazepam, while in the other studies the improvement following both treatments was comparable.

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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. When used alone, alcohol can end up slowing respiration to deadly levels due to alcohol poisoning.

The recommended dose of immediate-release cyclobenzaprine is 5 to 10mg, three times a day, while that for extended-release versions is 15 to 30 mg, once a day. Maximum daily dose for either form is 30 mg over the course of 24 hours. Taking more may result in adverse Flexeril side effects or overdose. People with glaucoma, increased eye pressure, liver disease, and difficulty urinating may not react well to this particular muscle relaxer.

What is Flexeril?

The overall incidence of adverse reactions among patients in the surveillance program was less than the incidence in the controlled clinical studies. Taking Flexeril in the recommended dosage and for the right length of time should pose little to no risk of dependence or addiction forming. Abusing the drug in higher doses or combining it with other central nervous system depressants like benzodiazepines increases the risk of addiction as well as the potential for overdose. Tell your doctor and pharmacist about all of your drugs (prescription or OTC, natural products, vitamins) and health problems.

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About three hours in, I started having some visual hallucinations. I thought I saw someone standing in my bedroom, and it looked like a child. I kept seeing bright flashes of light that were gone before I could even register that I had seen them. At that point, I needed it, and I slept for seven hours straight.

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Women who are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding shouldn’t take cyclobenzaprine. Individuals over the age of 65 should consider alternative options to cyclobenzaprine. Studies show that there are other safer, more effective drugs for treating muscle pain and insomnia in older patients.

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A post-marketing surveillance program was carried out in 7607 patients with acute musculoskeletal disorders, and included 297 patients treated with FLEXERIL 10 mg for 30 days or longer. The overall effectiveness of FLEXERIL was similar to flexeril dose for sciatica that observed in the double-blind controlled studies; the overall incidence of adverse effects was less (see ADVERSE REACTIONS). Some medicines can interact with cyclobenzaprine and cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.

Examples of drugs that can cause interactions with cyclobenzaprine are listed below. Cyclobenzaprine reduced or abolished skeletal muscle hyperactivity in several animal models. Animal studies indicate that cyclobenzaprine does not act at the neuromuscular junction or directly on skeletal muscle.