Everything You Need to Know About Cyclobenzaprine Flexeril for Sleep

Cyclobenzaprine, better known as the brand name medication Flexeril, is a muscle relaxant used to treat muscle-related pain such as tenderness and spasms from strains and other types of muscle injuries. A post-marketing surveillance program was carried out in 7607 patients with acute musculoskeletal flexeril long term use 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).

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. Patients with low back pain or fibromyalgia may benefit from treatment with cyclobenzaprine. Higher doses of cyclobenzaprine or tizanidine would be appropriate to promote sedation in cases of more severe discomfort or perceived muscular spasm. Although there appears to be insufficient data on metaxalone and methocarbamol, these may be useful in patients who cannot tolerate the sedative properties of cyclobenzaprine or tizanidine. Of note, methocarbamol costs substantially less than metaxalone.

Formulations include immediate-release and extended-release. If you are prescribed cyclobenzaprine, follow your healthcare provider’s directions for how to take it. Physical activity can not only improve sleep but also keep your muscles strong and flexible. If you’re currently recovering from an injury and undergoing physical therapy, check with your therapist before adopting a new exercise routine. A daily walk or other low-impact exercises can work wonders for your physical and mental health.

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Eight double-blind controlled clinical studies were performed in 642 patients comparing FLEXERIL 10 mg, diazepam, and placebo. Muscle spasm, local pain and tenderness, limitation of motion, and restriction in activities of daily living were evaluated. In three of these studies there was a significantly greater improvement with FLEXERIL than with diazepam, while in the other studies the improvement following both treatments was comparable. Cyclobenzaprine caused slight to moderate increase in heart rate in animals. Some medicines can interact with cyclobenzaprine and cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome.

More common side effects

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. The combination of Flexeril and alcohol can cause serious problems in the central nervous system, the consequences of which may end up being fatal.

• Using Flexeril with other drugs that make you drowsy can worsen this effect.
• Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.
• When people addicted to Flexeril attempt to stop taking it or reduce their doses they may start to experience withdrawal symptoms, although these are typically not severe.
• In the US – Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.

Ask your doctor before making any changes in how or when you take your medications. However, they may also experience negative and potentially dangerous adverse effects ranging from mild to severe. Group therapy can occur from 1 hour, 1 day a week to 3 hours a few times a week, depending on the type of group therapy. Typically, 1 to 2 therapists facilitate the session for a group of peers who are struggling with substance abuse. Taking this drug with an MAOI or within 14 days of stopping an MAOI could increase your risk of serious side effects. Flexeril is the brand name for Cyclobenzaprine, a prescription muscle relaxer that is similar to a class of Antidepressant drugs called Tricyclic Antidepressants.

Important considerations for taking cyclobenzaprine

Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor’s approval. Cyclobenzaprine can increase the effects of CNS depressants, such as alcohol, opioids, allergy medications, and sleeping pills.

The potential adverse effects should be communicated clearly to the patient. Because of limited comparable effectiveness data, choice of agent should be based on side-effect profile, patient preference, abuse potential, and possible drug interactions. The DEA has stated there really is no risk when it comes to Flexeril. In fact, the DEA has not officially listed cyclobenzaprine as a controlled substance at all. However, when abusing Flexeril recreationally, it does become a greater risk to the user.

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. Another potential side effect of Flexeril is overdose if an individual takes too much of the drug. Although Flexeril doesn’t produce a euphoric high like many other drugs, people still misuse it due to its relaxing effects; many will increase dosages to amplify those effects. A Flexeril overdose can cause severe health problems such as cardiac arrest, dangerously low blood pressure, and seizures.

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I woke up in the morning and I took one 10mg tab of Flexeril, sat back and waited for the high. It can take between 45 minutes to 1 hour to feel the effects of Flexeril begin to kick in. My mind and my body became relaxed and I felt really good. I was already feeling very calm and it seemed like every muscle in my body was relaxed. I felt the second dose kick in about two and a half hours after I started.