Can You Overdose on Flexeril? Side Effects & Symptoms

Can You Overdose on Flexeril? Side Effects & Symptoms

The incidence of drowsiness, the most frequent adverse reaction, was similar with both drugs. The plasma concentration of cyclobenzaprine is increased in the elderly (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Pharmacokinetics, when does flexeril peak Elderly). The elderly may also be more at risk for CNS adverse events such as hallucinations and confusion, cardiac events resulting in falls or other sequelae, drug-drug and drug-disease interactions.

• This medication has been prescribed for your current condition only.
• Flexeril is used to treat skeletal muscle conditions such as pain, injury, or spasms in conjunction with rest and physical therapy.
• This combination can cause extreme drowsiness and respiratory depression, but many people that abuse Flexeril will mix the substances anyway simply to increase the intoxication experienced.
• It works by directly reducing muscle hyperactivity and decreasing the transmission of pain.
• Since it is related to tricyclic antidepressants, some of which are excreted in breast milk, caution is advised in using Flexeril in women who are breastfeeding.

Based on individual patient response, the dose may be increased to 10 mg three times a day. Use of FLEXERIL for periods longer than two or three weeks is not recommended. Elderly patients seem to tolerate cyclobenzaprine less and may develop hallucinations as well as significant anticholinergic side effects, such as sedation. The use of significant lower dosing schedules in elderly patients may be prudent.

There is also a slight risk that abuse of Cyclobenzaprine or Flexeril can lead to serotonin syndrome. Serotonin syndrome occurs when you take medications that cause an excess of serotonin in your system. Whether cyclobenzaprine is superior to other drugs for the management of acute myofascial strain is unclear and it usually adds more side effects with little therapeutic gain (Turturro et al 2003). For neck pain, however, mixed results are obtained (Peloso et al 2005). There are no extensive studies on the use of cyclobenzaprine in the management of painful orofacial musculoskeletal conditions. The results suggest that cyclobenzaprine is superior to both placebo and clonazepam when added to self-care and education for the management of jaw pain upon awakening.

Flexeril: Frequently Asked Questions Answered

Flexeril is the brand name for Cyclobenzaprine, a prescription muscle relaxer that is similar to a class of Antidepressant drugs called Tricyclic Antidepressants. The generic form was first approved in 1977 and is sold in both immediate and extended release versions. It is not controlled under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), either. However, since Flexeril has properties that suppress pain, people may overuse it to amplify those feelings.

In the higher dose groups this microscopic change was seen after 26 weeks and even earlier in rats which died prior to 26 weeks; at lower doses, the change was not seen until after 26 weeks. The plasma concentration of cyclobenzaprine is increased in patients with hepatic impairment (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Pharmacokinetics, Hepatic Impairment). Our Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

In the US – Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at FDA-1088 or at /medwatch. Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor.

Flexeril is a muscle relaxant that is commonly prescribed to treat pain and discomfort caused by muscle injuries. Many treatment programs offer medical detoxification to address physical dependence in a safe environment with caring physicians and nurses who will work to alleviate symptoms and increase your comfort. There are options available across the full continuum of care to help with substance abuse. 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.

Take control of your life

Use of this medication is not recommended for periods longer than 2 or 3 weeks. 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. Combining this drug with alcohol may worsen the side effects you may observe.

Daily Sublingual Cyclobenzaprine Improves Sleep, Pain Outcomes … – MD Magazine

Daily Sublingual Cyclobenzaprine Improves Sleep, Pain Outcomes ….

Posted: Sat, 06 Nov 2021 07:00:00 GMT [source]

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. Flexeril is a muscle relaxant and works by blocking the pathways of the neurotransmitters that signal pain. It is not an anti-inflammatory drug and does not reduce any inflammation to provide muscle relief. Both of them are used for pain relief but have different mechanisms.

What should I tell my care team before I take this medication?

While the addictiveness of cyclobenzaprine is being debated, anyone exhibiting problematic patterns of substance use can benefit from addiction treatment. This is especially true if someone has been engaging in polydrug use with cyclobenzaprine and other substances. However, the half-life of immediate-release cyclobenzaprine is 18 hours on average, with a range of 8-37 hours.