Flexeril Side Effects, Uses, Dosage, Overdose, Pregnancy, Alcohol

Flexeril Side Effects, Uses, Dosage, Overdose, Pregnancy, Alcohol

Cyclobenzaprine is a prescription drug commonly sold in the US as Flexeril. It is most useful in cases of acute musculoskeletal pain and muscle spasms. It’s also be effective in treating low back pain, neck pain, and fibromyalgia. Skeletal muscle relaxants are often prescribed for musculoskeletal conditions including low back pain, neck pain, fibromyalgia, tension headaches, and myofascial pain syndrome. The goals of treatment include managing muscle pain and improving functional status so the patient can return to work or resume previous activities.

• Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor.
• If additional types of substance dependence (e.g., alcohol, opioids, sedatives) are a factor, medical detox may be needed.
• Observation with cardiac monitoring and observation for signs of CNS or respiratory depression, hypotension, cardiac dysrhythmias and/or conduction blocks, and seizures is necessary.
• Physical therapists combine stretches and exercises to strengthen muscles and relieve pressure from joints.

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 less (see ADVERSE REACTIONS). 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.

cyclobenzaprine (Rx)

Although all skeletal muscle relaxants should be used with caution in older patients, diazepam especially should be avoided in older patients or in patients with significant cognitive or hepatic impairment. Cyclobenzaprine is used with rest, physical therapy, and other measures to relax muscles and relieve pain and discomfort caused by strains, sprains, and other muscle injuries. Cyclobenzaprine is in a class of medications called skeletal muscle relaxants. It works by acting in the brain and nervous system to allow the muscles to relax.

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Use in the Elderly

Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor’s approval. 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. The plasma concentration of cyclobenzaprine is increased in the elderly (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Pharmacokinetics, Elderly).

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An individual might abuse Flexeril in order to feel relaxed, mildly euphoric, or sedated. Flexeril produces a variety of anticholinergic effects in high doses, altering the activity of brain neurotransmitters. Additionally, Flexeril users may experience mild withdrawal symptoms if the drug is used chronically in high doses. Eight double-blind controlled clinical studies were performed in 642 patients comparing FLEXERIL 10 mg, diazepam1, and placebo.

Cyclobenzaprine is a tricyclic amine salt that works in the central nervous system (CNS) as a depressant that reduces muscle hyperactivity. Clinical indications for cyclobenzaprine flexeril is it controlled substance are described below. At-home remedies like cold and heat therapy, and manual therapies like physical therapy and chiropractic care may have therapeutic effects for pain.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse or NIDA, more than 50 million Americans aged 12 and over have reportedly misused a prescription drug at least once in their life. There were 25.2 million prescriptions wrote in 2011 that included cyclobenzaprine such as Flexeril. Within the last five years, emergency room department visits related to muscle relaxant abuse almost doubled; they increased from 15,830 to 31,763 visits. Less frequent dosing should be considered for hepatically impaired or elderly patients (see PRECAUTIONS, Impaired Hepatic Function, and Use in the Elderly).

If you are not able to swallow the extended-release capsule whole, mix the contents of the capsule with applesauce. After you eat the mixture, take a drink, and swish and swallow to make sure that you have received all the medication.

Among the most dreaded toxicities linked with cyclical antidepressants, overdoses affect fast-acting sodium channels in the cardiac conduction system. Cyclical antidepressants block the cardiac sodium channel and cause prolongation of cardiac depolarization, which manifests as QRS widening on electrocardiograms. There is also evidence that cyclical antidepressants may decrease the seizure threshold by interfering with chloride conductance on the GABA receptor. The two main possible complications of taking muscle relaxers are the potential for overdose and dangerous interactions with alcohol. 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.