Cyclobenzaprine: What Is It? Side Effects & Interactions Cleveland Clinic

This is especially true if someone has been engaging in polydrug use with cyclobenzaprine and other substances. How cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) works is not well understood, but it helps alleviate stiffness, pain, and discomfort https://flexeril.live due to sprains, strains, or injuries to muscles. It is also sometimes prescribed off-label to treat fibromyalgia pain. This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

• Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.
• Flexeril produces a variety of anticholinergic effects in high doses, altering the activity of brain neurotransmitters.
• While all medications have potential risks and side effects, you need to determine if the pros outweigh the cons.
• This includes dizziness, difficulty thinking, and drowsiness.
• This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body.

If you have trouble swallowing the capsule, you may open the capsule and carefully sprinkle its contents on a tablespoon of applesauce. Swallow all of the mixture right away without chewing it. Then rinse your mouth with water and swallow the rinse liquid to make sure you have swallowed all of the medication.

Before taking cyclobenzaprine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, or tiredness may occur.

A potential danger with Flexeril involves slow digestion. Your liver processes the molecules, and it can take more than 18 hours for half of it to fade from your blood. If you start to feel sick, it takes some time for the rest of the drug to stop working. Individual muscle fibers are the target of most pain medications. When those cells relax and release, movement returns, and pain tends to fade. Most people feel sleepy while taking Flexeril, and they don’t move around much.

Is There a Risk of Flexeril Addiction?

It produces a relaxing effect that one might consider a Flexeril high. If the dosage is tampered with, that will end up causing greater cyclobenzaprine high. A Flexeril high is really only possible when the medication is abused or when the patient first takes it. Some users, however, have If someone takes more than the prescription suggests, the Flexeril high can include an altered state of mind. It can lead to cardiac arrest, a dangerous drop in blood pressure, or seizures.

If you miss a dose, try to take it as soon as you remember unless it’s almost time for your next dose. In this case, skip the missed dose and follow your normal dosing schedule. It’s not recommended that you ever take a double dose of cyclobenzaprine unless directed by your doctor. It’s also not recommended that you take this muscle relaxer for more than 3 weeks. When certain drugs are used with cyclobenzaprine, they may cause more severe side effects such as increased drowsiness or sedation.

Can I take Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?

Alcohol may interfere with the effect of this medication. Selected from data included with permission and copyrighted by First Databank, Inc. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a licensed data provider and is not for distribution, except as may be authorized by the applicable terms of use. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy or drowsy.

Certain medications are better than others for managing spine pain – Harvard Health

Certain medications are better than others for managing spine pain.

Posted: Sat, 01 Oct 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]

While it can be abused if it’s mismanaged, it really isn’t worth the health risks the high offers. Regardless of the slight high, it gives to users, there is also the potential of becoming dependent on it. The slight relaxing feeling can become something that becomes a normal part of their everyday experience. When a patient becomes physically dependent on Flexeril, they’re often at a much higher risk of developing a cyclobenzaprine addiction further down the line.

Some common side effects include drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness, fatigue or upset stomach. If these side effects become severe or cause problems in your everyday life, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommends contacting your doctor. There are some restrictions as to who can take this drug.

What is the most important information I should know about Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)?

Give your health care provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Given the symptoms of a cyclobenzaprine high, you may be tempted to ask the question, “is Flexeril an opioid or is cyclobenzaprine a muscle relaxer of a different sort? 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.