Cyclobenzaprine: MedlinePlus Drug Information

These drugs can make each other’s effects stronger and can slow a person’s heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing. The reason that Flexeril is a drug of concern according to the DEA is because of its potentially dangerous and life-threatening side effects. While Flexeril is not considered a controlled substance, there is evidence of its misuse due to the sedation effects and mild high that it causes.

• To find out how this drug might interact with something else you’re taking, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medication should only be used short-term (for 3 weeks or less) unless directed by your doctor.
• Cyclobenzaprine is effective for relieving lower back and neck pain (6, 7).
• Use of a medication taper may be warranted for chronic-use patients.

However, the half-life of immediate-release cyclobenzaprine is 18 hours on average, with a range of 8-37 hours. The extended-release form typically has a half-life of hours. It works by blocking pain sensations that are sent to your brain. Cyclobenzaprine oral tablet may cause drowsiness and dizziness.

Muscle relaxers can cause more serious side effects like fainting and blurred vision. Talk to your provider if you experience any bothersome flexeril.live side effects. But providers usually only prescribe them for brief periods due to the addiction potential of certain types.

It is only available by prescription and is generally used alongside physical therapy in order to provide short-term pain relief. The other prescription muscle relaxants aren’t controlled substances. This means they have addiction potential and can cause withdrawal symptoms if you develop a dependence and stop taking them. You should avoid these medications if you have a personal or family history of substance use disorder. There are no over-the-counter (OTC) muscle relaxants in the United States.

Missed Dose

Antispasmodics have more side effects than NSAIDs and acetaminophen, so it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of taking these medications. Although antispastics and antispasmodics are both types of skeletal muscle relaxants, they have specific and different uses. In addition, some of these medications treat conditions not related to muscle function. For example, providers sometimes prescribe diazepam to treat anxiety and seizures. Because it’s generally prescribed as a short-term response to acute pain, Flexeril abuse is rather unlikely. However, cyclobenzaprine and other muscle relaxants can be abused if they’re taken in excessive doses, so patients should be careful to adhere to their doctor’s instructions.

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Ask your doctor before making any changes in how or when you take your medications. Flexeril is used together with rest and physical therapy to treat skeletal muscle conditions such as pain, injury, or spasms. Signs of overdose include chest pain, hallucinations, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, slurred speech, difficulty breathing, and extreme drowsiness.

Especially in the case of back pain, physical therapy is an effective first-line treatment. Physical therapists combine stretches and exercises to strengthen muscles and relieve pressure from joints. Common side effects of cyclobenzaprine include drowsiness and dizziness. This medicine may be used for other purposes; ask your health care provider or pharmacist if you have questions. Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor. Since Flexeril is a muscle relaxant that shows the depressive activity of the CNS, it is not recommended to drive or do any dangerous activity under the influence of Flexeril.

How long does it take for cyclobenzaprine to work?

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor’s orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

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The immediate-release tablets last for about four to six hours, while the extended-release tablets last around 24 hours. Use Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Animal studies don’t always predict the way humans would respond. Therefore, this drug should only be used in pregnancy if clearly needed. Many insurance companies require prior authorization for this drug.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Based on the findings, FLEXERIL should be used with caution in subjects with mild hepatic impairment starting with the 5 mg dose and titrating slowly upward. Due to the lack of data in subjects with more severe hepatic insufficiency, the use of FLEXERIL in subjects with moderate to severe impairment is not recommended.