Is Cyclobenzaprine Addictive?

It is also possible to become dehydrated when using Flexeril, and for this reason, it is recommended to use it with caution in hot weather and to ensure adequate hydration. It is also strongly recommended to avoid using any other form of prescription medication with it unless a doctor has approved it. Cyclobenzaprine belongs to a group of the central nervous system (CNS) depressants that decrease muscle activity, resulting in the desired muscle relaxant outcome.

It has a half-life of 18 hours so it will stay in the body for about 90 hours. This means it will show up on drug tests for nearly 4 days. If a person has liver or kidney problems, the drug may remain in the body for longer. This is because flexeril for occipital neuralgia the liver will take longer to process the drug through. It’s important that someone on Flexeril let the test administrator know they’re taking Flexeril. This is because it can give false positives on other narcotic substances.

Flexeril is typically used in conjunction with physical therapy or exercise and other forms of treatment for applicable conditions. Most patients taking the short-acting cyclobenzaprine tablets report feeling the effects within 20 to 30 minutes and lasting for four to six hours. The long-lasting capsules take slightly longer to take effect but you may feel relief for up to 24 hours.

Jul 2017 Is cyclobenzaprine useful for pain?

There have been a number of fatalities reported as a result of the Flexeril and alcohol combination that occurred from physical harm caused by over-intoxication. Drug interactions and side effects are always possible when taking a muscle relaxer or any other prescription drug. For that reason, you should consider a few risk factors before taking cyclobenzaprine, whether it’s for muscle pain and discomfort or to facilitate better sleep habits in the short term.

• The recommended dose of immediate-release cyclobenzaprine is 5 to 10mg, three times a day, while that for extended-release versions is 15 to 30 mg, once a day.
• Maybe you were depressed or anxious and Flexeril offered you a way to feel calm.
• It demonstrates similar therapeutic effects to physical therapy for neck pain (26).
• Flexeril is the brand name for Cyclobenzaprine, a prescription muscle relaxer that is similar to a class of Antidepressant drugs called Tricyclic Antidepressants.
• Abuse of muscle relaxants alone is uncommon; often, it involves other substances.

I thought I saw someone standing in my bedroom, and it looked like a child. I kept seeing bright flashes of light that were gone before I could even register that I had seen them. At that point, I needed it, and I slept for seven hours straight. I was still in a daze, and I didn’t take any more of the drug.

Things to Consider Before Taking Cyclobenzaprine

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. Because it’s generally prescribed as a short-term response to acute pain, Flexeril abuse is rather unlikely. However, cyclobenzaprine and other muscle relaxants can be abused if they’re taken in excessive doses, so patients should be careful to adhere to their doctor’s instructions.

Cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxer used to treat muscle spasms and acute muscle pain. 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. Signs of overdose include chest pain, hallucinations, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, slurred speech, difficulty breathing, and extreme drowsiness. The risk of overdose is significantly increased when Flexeril is combined with other drugs, particularly alcohol or Benzodiazepines.

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Serotonin syndrome occurs when you take medications that cause an excess of serotonin in your system. 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.

Side effects

No matter what the reason is, understanding it is critical because then, the cause can be treated. This is often why people will be admitted into an addiction treatment clinic for Flexeril withdrawal. During cyclobenzaprine addiction treatment, the medication will be slowly tapered off by a reduction of amounts over a certain time frame. This can help patients avoid the discomfort of withdrawing from cyclobenzaprine. There is also the possibility of becoming psychologically dependent on Flexeril because of the feelings of relaxation.

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. Once the drug enters your body, it triggers your brain and nervous system to relax different muscles in the body, simultaneously relieving the pain and discomfort you feel. Muscle relaxers such as these act like a depressant for your body’s central nervous system. This causes a sedative effect and prevents your nerves from sending pain signals to your brain.