Choosing a Skeletal Muscle Relaxant
Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of cyclobenzaprine extended-release capsules in the pediatric population. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies. Individuals should not use these drugs together if they are not under the supervision of a physician. Physicians understand the safe amounts of medications that can be used together, and individuals who abuse drugs do not.
Xanax (alprazolam) is a benzodiazepine type anti-anxiety medication used to treat anxiety disorders and panic attacks. Other benzodiazepines include diazepam (Valium), clonazepam (Klonopin), lorazepam (Ativan), flurazepam (Dalmane), and others. Xanax and other benzodiazepines act by enhancing the effects of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. It is believed that excessive activity in the brain may cause anxiety or other psychiatric disorders. This is not all the information you need to know about cyclobenzaprine for safe and effective use and does not take the place of your doctor’s directions.
Cyclobenzaprine and Benzodiazepine are different on several parameters. Cyclobenzaprine is used to relax muscle pain and chronic pain (Herman, C.R., Schiffman, E.L., Look, J.O. and Rindal, D.B., 2002). Benzos work on the Central Nervous System by slowing down the brain activity. Take Xanax exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it. Your healthcare provider will tell you how much Xanax to take and when to take it.
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Just because cyclobenzaprine isn’t an opioid though doesn’t mean it hasn’t become a substance of abuse. Clinicians should monitor for signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome if the patient is taking other serotonergic drugs. In two case reports, the authors described patients who quickly developed serotonin syndrome after initiating cyclobenzaprine in the short term. Flexeril can be used to treat muscular dystrophy, as it helps to control the muscle spasms and damage that occur from this disease. Flexeril is also used to relieve pain from any muscle strain or sprain.
Xanax Oral: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & … – WebMD
Xanax Oral: Uses, Side Effects, Interactions, Pictures, Warnings & ….
Posted: Sun, 27 Jul 2014 20:43:01 GMT [source]
Cyclobenzaprine is most useful for cases of acute musculoskeletal pain and muscle spasms. It can be used on occasion for chronic pain, though it’s less suited for this kind of pain (5). Cyclobenzaprine is effective for relieving lower back and neck pain (6, 7). Patients who suffer from fibromyalgia may find that cyclobenzaprine both relaxes their aching muscles and helps improve their sleep (8). Given the side effects and prescription guidelines surrounding Flexeril, you may be wondering whether it is a narcotic or not.
Drug information
However, the DEA has still not listed Flexeril as a controlled substance, meaning there is little risk to using this drug. The truth is that this drug isn’t especially harmful when used by itself, but when combined with another CNS depressant the danger becomes magnified. Combing Flexeril with another type of substance can cause an overdose, the effects of which could be fatal.
- It often requires professional and consistent treatment to help an addict fully recover from the physical and mental dependence they’ve developed.
- The drug is addictive when used for chronic pain support because it does help to inhibit pain, but people will develop tolerance over time.
- Animal studies don’t always predict the way humans would respond.
- For most patients, the recommended dose of Flexeril is 5 mg three times a day.
- People who intentionally overdose with cyclobenzaprine may mix it with other substances, such as alcohol or various CNS depressants.
These are more likely to occur when a person has too much cyclobenzaprine in their system, for instance, if their prescription dose is too high or if they are misusing the drug. The hope for someone with an addiction to Flexeril comes from letting go of denial and seeking help. Using the drug and trying to quit alone is difficult, yet what mg does flexeril come in many will attempt to quit cold turkey. 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 Flexeril is better off seeking help from addiction specialists in a treatment facility than going it alone.
Other Things to Know About Flexeril
It works by inhibiting serotonin transmission at the spinal cord (3). Serotonin is a neurotransmitter chemical that helps carry pain signals to the brain (4). By preventing serotonin transmission, cyclobenzaprine alleviates pain by reducing the number of pain signals that reach the central nervous system. There is also the possibility of becoming psychologically dependent on Flexeril because of the feelings of relaxation.
Although it produces similar effects to opioids like OxyContin and Vicodin, the truth is that Flexeril is a muscle relaxant that belongs in a different class than other painkillers. Rather than activating the opioid receptors like other prescription drugs, Flexeril simply blocks certain nerve impulses sent to the brain. People can still abuse Flexeril because it leads to feelings of sedation and relaxation. Flexeril is a muscle relaxer containing the compound cyclobenzaprine, a type of tricyclic antidepressant that has been in circulation since 1977.
The tablet is usually taken with or without food three times a day. The extended-release capsule is usually taken with or without food once a day. Do not take this drug for more than 3 weeks without talking to your doctor.
