Cyclobenzaprine pharmacokinetics, including the effects of age, gender, and hepatic insufficiency

Cyclobenzaprine is not a controlled substance, however, it is only available by prescription. Despite being relatively easy to obtain, Flexeril does carry a risk for abuse, tolerance, physical dependence, and addiction. This risk increases if the drug is combined with other drugs such as alcohol or opioids. I had been prescribed this drug for back pain and to help with muscle spasms. It is a very powerful muscle relaxer, and it works quite well. It occurred to me that it might work even better if I used a little more than I normally would.

Flexeril is not a narcotic and will therefore not show up on a drug screen test. If the drug test covers tricyclic antidepressants, it may show up, but these are not common and as long as you have a prescription you cannot be fired for it. Cyclobenzaprine has a similar chemical structure to TCA’s although they are not the same. Cyclobenzaprine does not show up in urine tests and only has a half-life of 18 hours.

Cyclobenzaprine: What It Is and What’s Too Much

You have never felt such a feeling of relaxation in your entire life. I can easily see how someone might become addicted to it though. The physical effects of Flexeril include relaxation to the muscles. If a person is experiencing muscular pain from an injury, Flexeril controls the spasms that result in pain. It produces a relaxing effect that one might consider a Flexeril high.

For example, they may show the typical drug-seeking behavior of filling out higher and more frequent prescriptions or setting aside a budget to acquire more of the drug. Another sign of Flexeril addiction is that the person displays motor and mental impairment. Flexeril acts on the central nervous system, so this could manifest itself as someone who may seem chronically slow, with poor coordination, muscle weakness, slow reaction times and more.

We’re here 24/7 to help you get the care you need to live life on your terms, without drugs or alcohol. Talk to our recovery specialists today and learn about our integrated treatment programs. If you or a loved one believe that you are dealing a Flexeril addiction, don’t despair. Through learning what’s an intervention and working with interventionist professionals in the addiction field, you can successfully overcome an addiction to Flexeril. Getting treatment for addiction can increase your chances of achieving long-term sobriety. Look into local drug and alcohol rehab, inpatient treatment, and outpatient treatment facilities near you.

• It isn’t known exactly how this drug works to relax your muscles.
• One study compared FLEXERIL 5 mg and 10 mg t.i.d. to placebo; and a second study compared FLEXERIL 5 mg and 2.5 mg t.i.d. to placebo.
• Primary endpoints for both trials were determined by patient-generated data and included global impression of change, medication helpfulness, and relief from starting backache.
• Flexeril is a muscle relaxer containing the compound cyclobenzaprine, a type of tricyclic antidepressant that has been in circulation since 1977.
• RxList does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

If you’re unsure whether your side effects are considered common, check the packaging of the prescription or consult your doctor and seek medical help. If Flexeril is taken as prescribed for roughly two weeks, it should produce little to no withdrawal symptoms. Outside of these limits, there may some minor symptoms, especially if taken in high dosages or more frequently than prescribed. Flexeril is considered to be a drug with high abuse potential and addictive qualities. Some of the withdrawal symptoms that may possibly occur as a result of taking Flexeril are nausea, headaches, fatigue, and general lethargy. Users may also become psychologically dependent on Flexeril because of the feelings it produces.

Who is at Risk of Cyclobenzaprine Abuse?

Protect the patient’s airway, establish an intravenous line and initiate gastric decontamination. Observation with cardiac monitoring and observation for signs of CNS or respiratory depression, hypotension, cardiac dysrhythmias and/or conduction blocks, and seizures is necessary. If signs of toxicity occur at any time during this period, extended monitoring is required.

What are some of the best medications for muscle pain? – Medical News Today

What are some of the best medications for muscle pain?.

Posted: Fri, 22 Jul 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]

A report by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in 2010, found that there were over 10,000 references of cyclobenzaprine in calls made to the American Association of Poison Control Centers. Furthermore, The Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) reported in 2011 that more than 11,000 individuals received care from emergency departments for misusing cyclobenzaprine. Cyclobenzaprine is only available by prescription in the USA, meaning that it has some potential to be misused.

Patients should tell their doctors about any other prescriptions they’re taking before ingesting a muscle relaxant like cyclobenzaprine. Specifically, monoamine oxidase (MOA) inhibitors such as isocarboxazid, linezolid and phenelzine (to name just a few) are antidepressants that shouldn’t be taken in combination with cyclobenzaprine. Other nervous system depressants, like alcohol, should also be avoided. Professionals generally consider Flexeril to be nonaddictive; however, there is evidence that Flexeril addiction is possible. Flexeril depresses the central nervous system, an effect some find desirable, which can lead to misuse.

Flexeril is often prescribed for disorders such as muscular dystrophy as well. Many studies have shown that this medication peaks in the first couple of days after starting it and generally won’t help to decrease the pain after the first 2 weeks. For this reason, it isn’t recommended that someone take this medication is flexeril a muscle relaxant long-term. The combination of Flexeril and alcohol can cause serious problems in the central nervous system, the consequences of which may end up being fatal. The problem with combining Flexeril and alcohol comes from the fact that both of these drugs are actually central nervous system (CNS) depressants.