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

Withdrawal symptoms make it more likely a person will go back to using the drug to keep from feeling so horrible but it may have lethal consequences if they overdose. Anyone that quits how long does it take for flexeril to leave your system is better off seeking help from addiction specialists in a treatment facility than going it alone. In this way, they receive support and help from others who understand their condition and can provide space to recover and heal. Abuse of cyclobenzaprine is relatively rare but most often occurs in the context of other substance use. Polydrug abuse can cause serious harm, especially when the combination includes CNS depressing substances such as benzodiazepines and alcohol. Elderly patients seem to tolerate cyclobenzaprine less and may develop hallucinations as well as significant anticholinergic side effects, such as sedation.

If you’re taking cyclobenzaprine as a sleep aid, the short-acting tablets may work best. For starters, they take effect almost immediately, helping you fall and stay asleep. This is long enough for you to get a relatively good night’s sleep without worry over feeling groggy or disorientated in the morning. It’s important to note, however, that this muscle relaxer isn’t intended for use as a sleep aid. It can, however, reduce acute pain or discomfort that’s causing your insomnia and offer short-term relief for acute insomnia. Cyclobenzaprine is considered a skeletal muscle relaxant because of the way it affects the body’s nervous system.

What is the most important information I should know about Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)?

Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription. 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. Our insomnia treatment program has helped over 2,000 users beat their insomnia & sleep better. Cyclobenzaprine comes in both short-acting tablets and long-acting capsules. Your doctor may prescribe you 5 mg, 7.5 mg, or 10 mg depending on the reason, your medical history, and other factors like age, weight, and gender.

Also avoid driving, operating machinery, or other hazardous activities until you know how cyclobenzaprine affects you. Several risk factors can increase the risk of Flexeril overdose including frequency and amount of use, height and weight, gender, pre-existing conditions, and mixing of substances. Since metabolism slows down as we age, older people have a higher risk of overdose because of how long it takes for doses to be processed out of the body. People of smaller stature like women may also have a higher risk when taking smaller amounts. Flexeril is a prescription drug that should only be used for 1 to 2 weeks.

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Multiple drug ingestion (including alcohol) is common in deliberate cyclobenzaprine overdose. As management of overdose is complex and changing, it is recommended that the physician contact a poison control center for current information on treatment. Signs and symptoms of toxicity may develop rapidly after cyclobenzaprine overdose; therefore, hospital monitoring is required as soon as possible.

Missed Dose

It is important to note that Flexeril should not be taken for longer than 12 weeks as it may then become habit-forming and lead to potential Flexeril withdrawal symptoms. Before taking Flexeril, it is important to speak with your doctor about any other medications you are taking, allergies, or medical conditions. Some cases of Flexeril abuse have shown symptoms of serotonin syndrome. Seizures, nausea, agitation, and hallucinations are reported effects of the drug overdose.

• Cyclobenzaprine is a centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxant structurally related to tricyclic antidepressants.
• Other drugs may interact with cyclobenzaprine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
• This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems.
• The most common treatment (and the one most likely to be covered by insurance) is 28 days at an inpatient or residential rehab facility.

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. Acute recovery phase of myocardial infarction, and patients with arrhythmias, heart block or conduction disturbances, or congestive heart failure. In patients with CNS depression, early intubation is advised because of the potential for abrupt deterioration. Seizures should be controlled with benzodiazepines or, if these are ineffective, other anticonvulsants (e.g. phenobarbital, phenytoin). Physostigmine is not recommended except to treat life-threatening symptoms that have been unresponsive to other therapies, and then only in close consultation with a poison control center. After detox has been completed, individuals may enter an inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation program for treatment.

What happens if I miss a dose?

These may include fatigue, nausea, headache, and general malaise. Remaining abstinent from substances that the body has become physiologically dependent upon can be difficult without support. Triggers in an addicted person’s immediate environment can easily lead to relapse without the proper support. Inpatient rehab or an intensive outpatient program can help a person addicted to Flexeril and alcohol to smoothly navigate this transitional phase, which is critical to long-term sobriety. Drug interactions and warnings issued with Flexeril state that the drug “may enhance the effects of alcohol.”6 It would be unwise to misinterpret this statement as an endorsement to use this dangerous combination.

Many inpatient rehab centers offer a full day of group therapy sessions in a setting in which medications can also be prescribed and monitored. Outpatient treatment approaches vary in length but often consist of a half-day group therapy program in which any necessary medications are managed by an outside healthcare provider. Flexeril is an effective pharmacological treatment for muscle spasms and pain, but it can lead to an increased risk of side effects and dependency when mixed with alcohol. If you or a loved one has been prescribed Flexeril but are no longer using it as prescribed or you’re combining it with alcohol, it may be time to seek help. A number of treatment approaches are available to help treat Flexeril and alcohol addiction.

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, like other muscle relaxants, is only used orally.