Cyclobenzaprine Flexeril Side Effects & Interactions

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. When used alone, alcohol can end up slowing respiration to deadly levels due to alcohol poisoning. Flexeril abuse can also end up leading to dangerously slow respiration.

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People with glaucoma, increased eye pressure, liver disease, and difficulty urinating may not react well to this particular muscle relaxer. 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.

Cyclobenzaprine Interactions with Other Substances

Cyclobenzaprine is a skeletal muscle relaxant that works by increasing the release of the chemical norepinephrine from central nervous structures in the brain, Patel said. Cyclobenzaprine is not designed for long-term use, and patients should follow the regimen provided by their physician, said Dr. Kiran Patel, pain management specialist at Lenox Hill Hospital. “It’s a muscle relaxant that can help with a muscle spam or the sensation of tightness,” Patel told Live Science.

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It’s important to share a complete list of medications and allergies with your doctor before taking any new medicines, including cyclobenzaprine. You shouldn’t combine this muscle relaxer with another sleep aid or alcohol. Because cyclobenzaprine also causes drowsiness, it can intensify the effects of alcohol and other sleeping pills, causing dangerous side effects. You should avoid operating machinery or driving a vehicle when taking this medication. If you’re taking cyclobenzaprine as a sleep aid, the short-acting tablets may work best.

In some cases, your doctor may adjust your dose, but you should not exceed any prescribed dose of this medicine due to the possibility of serious side effects. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible.

Flexeril is similar to tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) medications. 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 that observed in the double-blind controlled studies; the overall incidence of adverse effects was price of flexeril 10 mg less (see ADVERSE REACTIONS). Concomitant use of monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors or within 14 days after their discontinuation. Hyperpyretic crisis seizures, and deaths have occurred in patients receiving cyclobenzaprine (or structurally similar tricyclic antidepressants) concomitantly with MAO inhibitor drugs. Abuse of muscle relaxants alone is uncommon; often, it involves other substances.

Protect the patient’s airway, establish an intravenous line and initiate gastric decontamination. Observation with cardiac monitoring and observation for signs of CNS or respiratory depression, hypotension, cardiac dysrhythmias and/or conduction blocks, and seizures is necessary. If signs of toxicity occur at any time during this period, extended monitoring is required. Monitoring of plasma drug levels should not guide management of the patient. Dialysis is probably of no value because of low plasma concentrations of the drug.

How Do People Abuse Flexeril?

It can lead to cardiac arrest, a dangerous drop in blood pressure, or seizures. One of the more common effects of the Flexeril high is drowsiness. The dangers of taking more than prescribed are much greater than the reward of abusing it.

• Cyclobenzaprine is a drug prescribed to treat pain and discomfort.
• 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.
• Maybe you were depressed or anxious and Flexeril offered you a way to feel calm.
• Using drinks containing alcohol can increase your risk of dizziness, drowsiness, and decreased alertness from cyclobenzaprine.
• When Flexeril and alcohol are mixed, however, these qualities can actually end up overlapping, making the potentially fatal risk of low respiration even more likely to occur.

The dosing recommendations for Flexeril have changed significantly in the past 15 years. Prior to February 2003, the maximum daily dosage was 60 mg per day. Based on the available safety and efficacy data, the manufacturer reduced the maximum dosage recommendation to 30 mg per day. Somnus Therapy’s online sleep therapy program can help guide you toward the best approach for treating both acute and chronic insomnia, regardless of the cause. Here are a few more tips for improving sleep quality despite acute or chronic pain. Do you still have questions about whether or not cyclobenzaprine is the right muscle relaxer for you?

If you cannot swallow the capsule whole, you may open the capsule and sprinkle the contents over one tablespoon of applesauce. Rinse the mouth to make sure all of the medicine have been swallowed.