Muscle Relaxers: What They Are, Uses, Side Effects & Types

Additionally, Flexeril users may experience mild withdrawal symptoms if the drug is used chronically in high doses. 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. Central nervous system depression, seizures, heart attack, and even death can occur.

• Flexeril is usually taken once daily for only 2 or 3 weeks.
• They recommend that the selection of a muscle relaxant should be based on the potential for side effects, drug interactions, abuse, and also patient preference.
• The different types and brands of skeletal muscle relaxers work in different ways to affect muscle function.
• Cyclobenzaprine is believed to act on gamma and alpha neurons and their firing, to reduce muscle tension or spasms.

Examples of drugs that can cause interactions with cyclobenzaprine are listed below. It isn’t known exactly how this drug works to relax your muscles. It may decrease the signals from your brain that tell your muscles to spasm. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records.

Muscle Relaxers

Sometimes, cyclobenzaprine is prescribed off-label to treat fibromyalgia, although it is considered a second-line treatment for that condition. It is also being investigated in a rapid-release form as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder since the medication has similar effects on the brain as tricyclic antidepressants. This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that slow down the nervous system, possibly causing drowsiness). Check with your doctor before taking any of the above while you are using this medicine.

Types of Skeletal Muscle Relaxers for Back Spasms – Verywell Health

Types of Skeletal Muscle Relaxers for Back Spasms.

Posted: Fri, 11 May 2018 03:07:58 GMT [source]

Two muscle relaxants called Zanaflex and Flexeril are among the drugs used to treat fibromyalgia. These drugs aren’t approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating fibromyalgia, but both are commonly prescribed as an off-label medication. Owing to its anticholinergic activity and long half-life, cyclobenzaprine is not recommended for use in the elderly. It is available in immediate-release tabletsof 5 milligrams, 7.5 milligrams, and 10 milligrams and extended-release capsules of 15 milligrams and 30 milligrams and is usually given 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.

Healthcare providers mainly prescribe antispastic muscle relaxers to treat spasticity. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you should also discuss using cyclobenzaprine with your healthcare provider. Both tizanidine and cyclobenzaprine can cause problems if you take them when you have certain other health issues. You should avoid using cyclobenzaprine if you have a slow heart rhythm or heart rhythm problems. In some circumstances, tizanidine might be used safely in this case.

What are the possible risks or complications of taking muscle relaxers?

Monitoring of plasma drug levels should not guide management of the patient. Dialysis is probably of no value because of low plasma concentrations of the drug. Since gabapentin works so well as an adjuvant, it is also frequently used in combination with drugs of abuse to intensify their effects, especially opioids.

Also, taking a muscle relaxant with alcohol can increase the chance of abuse or dependence. Flexeril is also a muscle relaxant used to treat skeletal muscle spasms. Consult your healthcare provider for medical advice regarding drug interactions. Skelaxin and Flexeril are both indicated to be used along with rest, physical therapy, and other measures to relieve the discomfort of acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions like acute low back pain or neck pain. Cyclobenzaprine is the generic name for a muscle relaxant, prescribed in the US under brand names like Amrix, Fexmid, FusePaq Tabradol, and, most popularly, Flexeril.

The drug can disrupt neurotransmitter action in the brain, which may increase the euphoric feeling on a short-term basis but can also cause brain damage and cognitive difficulties after long-term abuse. Cyclobenzaprine is only effective at relieving pain for the first two weeks; after that, the body develops at tolerance to the medication, so it is no longer effective, even at higher doses. The medication is typically not prescribed for more than three weeks. It’s important to thoroughly inform your doctor about all of your medical conditions because muscle relaxants might not be suitable for certain diseases and conditions. Using drinks containing alcohol can increase your risk of dizziness, drowsiness, and decreased alertness from cyclobenzaprine.

Robaxin is the brand name of the generic medication called methocarbamol. It was developed in the 1960s to treat pain and provide relief from muscle spasms. While its exact mechanism of action remains unclear, scientists believe Robaxin can help with pain and discomfort caused by musculoskeletal conditions by blocking the pain signals that are sent to the brain. It is also believed that Robaxin relaxes the muscle by having depressive effects on the central nervous system. 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).

Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration

Since the drug acts on the brain instead of the spinal cord or muscles, it is a good treatment for overall pain problems. Cyclobenzaprine is used with rest, physical therapy, and other measures to relax muscles and relieve pain and flexeril a benzo 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.