Flexeril Cyclobenzaprine Hcl: Uses, Dosage, Side Effects, Interactions, Warning

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. Using cyclobenzaprine with other drugs that make you drowsy can worsen this effect. Ask your doctor before using opioid medication, a sleeping pill, a muscle relaxer, or medicine for anxiety or seizures. The extended-release formulation should be administered at the same time each day. The capsule may be swallowed whole, but its contents also may be sprinkled onto a tablespoon of applesauce for immediate consumption without chewing the granules.

The plasma concentration of cyclobenzaprine is increased in the elderly (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Pharmacokinetics, 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. For these reasons, in the elderly, cyclobenzaprine should be used only if clearly needed. In such patients FLEXERIL should be initiated with a 5 mg dose and titrated slowly upward.

Cyclobenzaprine relieves skeletal muscle spasms of local origin without interfering with muscle function. In preclinical research, cyclobenzaprine reduced skeletal muscle hyperactivity. Research indicates that it primarily acts within the central nervous system in the brain stem. 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.

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As discussed above, the clinician should consider contacting the poison control center in refractory cases. A psychiatrist consult is required for deliberate poisoning of cyclobenzaprine. 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.

Missed Dose

The mild sedative effect of muscle relaxers make them great for sleep, but it can also make you tired the next day. This depends on dosage, which can affect how long your next day drowsiness lasts and how severe it is. While 10 mg is a common dosage, cyclobenzaprine can often be effective in lower doses.

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• Flexeril is prescribed to treat short-term pain and discomfort that stems from muscle injuries, including strains, sprains, and spasms.
• Flexeril on its own may not be as susceptible to creating addiction but when it’s abused, there’s a much greater risk.

They didn’t hurt at all, but it was like the connection between my legs and my brain had been severed. I slept there until the morning, at which point, I was still groggy, but at least I could move my legs. Getting high on Flexeril is kind of like being on a vacation. You have never felt such a feeling of relaxation in your entire life. However, it’s not something that I would do all the time.

Medical Professionals

The Flexeril dosage comes in Flexeril 5 mg and Flexeril 10 mg tablets. Fexmid is a brand name tablet that comes in a 7.5 mg tablet. Amrix is an extended-release capsule that can be taken once daily in a 15 mg – 30 mg dose. Cyclobenzaprine usually begins working about one hour after it is ingested, relaxing muscles and relieving muscle spasms. Formulations include immediate-release and extended-release.

Drugs.com provides accurate and independent information on more than 24,000 prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines and natural products. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 3 Sep 2023), Cerner Multum™ (updated 28 Aug 2023), ASHP (updated 10 Aug 2023) and others. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports that fatal overdose is rare, but mixing the medication with other drugs or alcohol is common in overdoses. Combining Flexeril with other substances, especially other central nervous system depressants like alcohol, can increase the risk for overdose greatly.

There is also evidence that cyclical antidepressants may decrease the seizure threshold by interfering with chloride conductance on the GABA receptor. In the US – Call your doctor flexeril for rotator cuff pain for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at FDA-1088 or at /medwatch. The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to.

Assess your body’s handling of the drug before you engage in potentially dangerous activities that demand alertness. People who take cyclobenzaprine outside the parameters of treatment set out by their doctor face an increased risk of developing severe, potentially fatal side effects. Note that these lists of side effects are not exhaustive. If you experience anything unusual while taking cyclobenzaprine, consult your doctor. If you experience any severe side effects, seek immediate medical attention. Regular use of Flexeril may lead to drug tolerance, which means that it will take more of the drug each time to feel its effects.