Cyclobenzaprine: MedlinePlus Drug Information

It’s not intended for long-term use or to treat chronic pain. Cyclobenzaprine and muscle relaxers like it are usually prescribed following an injury, car accident, or another minor incident that causes muscle spasms and other temporary muscle conditions. The drug Cyclobenzaprine, sold under the brand Flexeril, is structurally very similar to a class of Antidepressants called Tricyclic Antidepressants. Flexeril is commonly prescribed to induce pain relief from muscle spasms and improve motor skills, sleep, and energy levels by generating pain relief. These feelings may potentially be a cause for misuse of Flexeril and lead to addictive effects.

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. Examples of drugs that can cause interactions with cyclobenzaprine are listed below. This medication is not recommended for use in older adults because they may be at greater risk for side effects while using this drug. Significance Statement Cyclobenzaprine, a clinically used muscle relaxant that is strongly linked to sedation, demonstrates high affinity non-competitive antagonism at the histamine H1 receptor. This effect likely modulates the high degree of sedation patients experience.

On the other hand, cyclobenzaprine is generally not prescribed for longer than two or three weeks. Call your doctor or local poison control center immediately if you have an allergic reaction. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if your symptoms are severe. Do not take this drug again if you’ve ever had an allergic reaction to it. In order to protect against the rare but potentially critical manifestations described above, obtain an ECG and immediately initiate cardiac monitoring. Protect the patient’s airway, establish an intravenous line and initiate gastric decontamination.

Other Interactions

We’ll also share the potential risks and side effects of using Flexeril so that you can make an informed choice about how to manage your pain. Flexeril usually takes between 45 minutes to an hour to work after being ingested to show relaxation activity. It peaks at around 3 to 4 hours, and then the effects begin to wear off. This timeline is appropriate for an immediate-release formulation.

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This means you may need to take it with other medications. Cyclobenzaprine has mild interactions with at least 221 different drugs. Cyclobenzaprine has moderate interactions with at least 43 different drugs.

What Can I Do If Flexeril Doesn’t Help My Pain?

Do not take this drug for more than 3 weeks without talking to your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Flexeril is a muscle relaxer containing the compound cyclobenzaprine, a type of tricyclic antidepressant that has been in circulation since 1977. Other common tricyclic antidepressants include Norpramin, Tofranil, and Vivactil.

• The process of healing ourselves, our families, our communities, and the world at large, starts with recognizing the danger that these substances represent.
• Examples of drugs that can cause interactions with cyclobenzaprine are listed below.
• If you’re considering cyclobenzaprine as a muscle relaxer or a way to help ease short-term insomnia, you have to look at both the pros and cons.
• Cyclobenzaprine is used to help relax certain muscles in your body.

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. The extended-release form typically has a half-life of hours. Check the labels on all your medicines (such as allergy or cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. Here are a few more tips for improving sleep quality despite acute or chronic pain.

The technical name of the active compound in Flexeril is cyclobenzaprine which can be found in a variety of different products. 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.

Symptoms of overdose may include the following:

It’s also not recommended that you take this muscle relaxer for more than 3 weeks. It is available in immediate-release tablets of 5 milligrams, 7.5 milligrams, and 10 milligrams and extended-release capsules of 15 milligrams and 30 milligrams and is usually given flexeril cause drowsiness three times daily. 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.

As a result, the activity of Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), which depresses the Central Nervous System and causes these sensations, could be a reason for Flexeril misuse and addiction. This medication should only be used short-term (for 3 weeks or less) unless directed by your doctor. Do not increase your dose or use this drug more often or for longer than prescribed.