Cyclobenzaprine
Cyclobenzaprine is used short-term to treat muscle spasms. It is usually used along with rest and physical therapy.
Is Flexeril considered a narcotic?
In the United States, Canada or internationally, Flexeril is not considered a controlled substance and should therefore not be considered a narcotic in any sense. In fact, it is a completely different class of medication that has no resemblance of any sort to the narcotic family.
Is Flexeril an addictive drug?
Many people don’t realize that Flexeril is meant to be used as only a short-term medication. In most cases, those given a Flexeril prescription should use it for no more than three weeks in total. This is because it’s a highly addictive medication. Many people soon feel that they can’t get enough of the Flexeril high.
Is Flexeril and cyclobenzaprine the same thing?
Flexeril is a brand name for a drug called cyclobenzaprine, which is used in the treatment of muscle spasms along with physical therapy. As a supplemental prescription, Flexeril can help to relax muscles and ease pain that would otherwise make physical therapy more difficult or impossible.
What is Flexeril and is it addictive?
Flexeril is one of the most common medications for muscle spasms and pain, with more than 18 million prescriptions written each year. While Flexeril is considered a relatively safe drug with few withdrawal symptoms, it still poses a risk for abuse and addiction. However, recovery is possible for those who become addicted to Flexeril.
What is Flexeril is it a narcotic?
Is flexeril a narcotic? Flexeril is not a narcotic drug or an opioid. It is not controlled under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), either. However, since Flexeril has properties that suppress pain, people may overuse it to amplify those feelings.
Is Flexeril a controlled substance Why or why not?
Flexeril not a controlled substance and does not cause psychoactive effects on its own. Misuse of Flexeril occurs when it is taken alongside another substance, such as alcohol or opioids, to amplify the effects of those substances.
What class of drug is Flexeril?
Cyclobenzaprine is in a class of medications called skeletal muscle relaxants.
Why are muscle relaxers controlled substances?
Are muscle relaxants controlled substances? Soma and Valium are controlled substances. This means they have a potential for abuse and dependence. Avoid these medications if you have a history of a substance use disorder.
Is Flexeril a pain killer or muscle relaxer?
Flexeril is a muscle relaxant. It works by blocking nerve impulses (or pain sensations) that are sent to your brain. Flexeril is used together with rest and physical therapy to treat skeletal muscle conditions such as pain, injury, or spasms. Flexeril may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Can Flexeril cause a positive drug test?
Several other substances also cause false-positive tricyclic antidepressant toxic screen results, including certain antipsychotic medications, antihistamines, and the muscle relaxant cyclobenzaprine.
Is Flexeril a strong muscle relaxer?
Robaxin and Flexeril are effective treatments for treating musculoskeletal pain and muscle spasms. The more effective drug is the one that works best for your specific case. Flexeril is one of the most studied muscle relaxants; thus, it has more supporting evidence for its effectiveness.
Is Flexeril good for anxiety?
Cyclobenzaprine should not be used for anxiety. It can cause some of the same side effects that many anti-anxiety medications do, such as drowsiness and sleepiness. But, it is not meant to be used for this purpose.
Is a muscle relaxer a narcotic?
Methocarbamol isn't a narcotic. It's a central nervous system (CNS) depressant and muscle relaxant used to treat muscle spasms, tension, and pain. It may be mistaken for a narcotic due to side effects like drowsiness and dizziness, which can feel like a drug “high.”
Is cyclobenzaprine a scheduled narcotic?
Cyclobenzaprine medications are not DEA Scheduled drugs and, therefore, the potential for abuse and dependence with Flexeril is considered to be relatively low. However, the drug is known to enhance the effects of other substances such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, and opioids.
Is cyclobenzaprine considered a benzo?
Answer. No, cyclobenzaprine is a 'prine' not a 'pine' (benzodiazepine)... Benzodiazepines effect the neurotransmitter GABA (the 'feel good' neurotransmitter).
Is Flexeril a scheduled drug?
The Drug Enforcement Administration does not currently have Flexeril scheduled as a controlled substance, though the drug does have a slight potential for abuse by some due to its sedating effects 1,2,3.
How long does Flexeril last?
A small number of users report euphoria. 2. Flexeril is only intended for short-term use—typically 2–3 weeks. People who use it for a longer period of time may build tolerance and require higher doses to achieve the same effect they experienced before.
What happens when you stop taking Flexeril?
Some of the withdrawal symptoms reported when long-term users abruptly stop taking Flexeril include: 2. Headache. General malaise.
How many emergency room visits were associated with Flexeril in 2010?
In 2010, more than 12,400 emergency room visits were associated with Flexeril use—a 101% increase from 2004. 2. Many people who abuse the drug take it in combination with other drugs or alcohol to enhance its effects. People who misuse it report feelings of sedation and relaxation.
Is Flexeril treatment more affordable than inpatient treatment?
Outpatient Flexeril treatment is a great option for those that want to continue to work, go to school, or fulfill other responsibilities outside of the treatment environment. Outpatient is also typically more affordable than inpatient facilities.
Can Flexeril cause malaise?
Flexeril is a therapeutic drug frequently prescribed by physicians, so people may be unaware that its use can be problematic. Being aware of the signs and symptoms of Flexeril addiction and abuse can prevent negative outcomes, including overdose.
Is Flexeril a prescription drug?
Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) is a muscle relaxant commonly prescribed to ease pain and discomfort associated with muscle sprains, strains, and injuries. 1. Although Flexeril abuse and addiction are not as common as addiction to some other types of prescription drugs, the drug can still have a number of detrimental short-term and long-term effects.
Does Flexeril cause diarrhea?
Stomach problems (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea). Dry mouth. Because the drug is only recommended for short-term use, the long-term effects of Flexeril have not been widely studied. Some of the potential long-term effects of Flexeril abuse and addiction include: Physical tolerance.
The Effects of Abusing a Flexeril Dosage
It goes without saying that long-term use of any prescription medication should be seriously considered and discussed with a doctor.
Common Short-Term Flexeril Side Effects
Of course, abusing Flexeril doesn’t just harm your body in the long term.
Signs of Addiction to Flexeril
If you suspect that someone you love has developed an addiction to Flexeril — or if you’re concerned that your own usage of the drug has gotten out of hand — we know that you’re looking for the signs of addiction.
Are You Considering Treatment for Flexeril Addiction?
Whether you’re concerned for yourself or for someone you love, it’s an incredibly brave first step to look for treatment options for an addiction to Flexeril.
What are the side effects of taking Flexeril?
There are many physical and psychological side effects that may occur when abusing Flexeril, some of which may become worse when combining it with alcohol or other drugs. Potential negative effects of Flexeril abuse include 1,2,3: Elevated heart rate. Nausea. Excessive drowsiness.
What are the withdrawal symptoms of Flexeril?
A person who abruptly stops using Flexeril may experience symptoms such as 1,3: Headache. Nausea.
Why is it important to have a solid aftercare plan?
Addiction is a chronic, relapsing illness, so to help maintain long-term recovery, it is important that patients have a solid aftercare plan in place by the time they discharge from their treatment program. Aftercare treatment emphasizes relapse prevention to maximize the chances of sustained sobriety.
What is medically supervised detox?
Medically supervised detox is often a first course of treatment for addicted people who are at risk of experiencing troublesome withdrawal symptoms. In some cases, medications may be administered to help make the process more comfortable and, in doing so, may help decrease the likelihood of immediate relapse.
Can you use Flexeril with cyclobenzaprine?
Flexeril use can become problematic for some people, and there is some evidence that cyclobenzaprine dependence can develop. However, withdrawal symptoms are not as common during Flexeril detox as they are for other drugs of abuse such as opiates, alcohol, or benzodiazepines. That said, some withdrawal symptoms may occur ...
Is Flexeril a controlled substance?
The Drug Enforcement Administration does not currently have Flexeril scheduled as a controlled substance, though the drug does have a slight potential for abuse by some due to its sedating effects 1,2,3. People may abuse Flexeril for its subjective high, which is characterized by feelings of sedation, relaxation, and mild euphoria.
Does Flexeril work for everyone?
It is important to understand that each person’s Flexeril addiction is unique, so no single treatment will work for everyone. Because Flexeril is often abused in combination with other drugs, different courses of treatment may be used to treat co-occurring addictions.
How does Flexeril work?
Flexeril is a brand name, a prescription muscle relaxer. It works by blocking certain feelings or impulses sent from the muscles to the brain. It is usually prescribed in tablet form for people with muscle pain, injuries or spasms. Like many other muscle relaxants, it’s often meant for short-term use.
Why is Flexeril so popular?
This popularity is because it is a way to counteract the stimulating effects of other drugs. Many people start misusing Flexeril after taking it, by prescription, to treat an injury.
What is the street name for Flexeril?
Flexeril Street Names, Common Misspellings, and Other Brand Names. The Flexeril generic name is cyclobenzaprine. Other brand names for the drug include Amrix and Fexmid. Informally, the drug is referred to with the street name “Flex-ies” and some common misspellings may include: flexreal. flexerill.
How many ER visits were there in 2010 for Flexeril?
However, there is data to show that Flexeril abuse may be increasing. In 2010, there were 12,411 emergency room (ER) visits that involved the drug. This number was more than double the number of ER visits that involved the drug only a few years earlier.
Why is it important not to mix opioids with other drugs?
This risk is one of the reasons it is so important not to mix the drug with other substances, like opioids, that can impair thinking or reaction speed.
Does Flexeril cause dizziness?
Some common side effects of Flexeril use include drowsiness, dry mouth, and dizziness. The higher the dose, the more likely these side effects are to occur. There are also possible interactions with Flexeril and central nervous system (CNS) depressants like alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, and barbiturates.
Is Flexeril a controlled substance?
Flexeril not a controlled substance and does not cause psychoactive effects on its own. Misuse of Flexeril occurs when it is taken alongside another substance, such as alcohol or opioids, to amplify the effects of those substances.
How long does Flexeril last?
In rats treated with Flexeril for up to 67 weeks at doses of approximately 5 to 40 times the maximum recommended human dose, pale, sometimes enlarged, livers were noted and there was a dose-related hepatocyte vacuolation with lipidosis. In the higher dose groups this microscopic change was seen after 26 weeks and even earlier in rats which died prior to 26 weeks; at lower doses, the change was not seen until after 26 weeks.
What is the difference between Flexeril 5 mg and Flexeril 10 mg?
The 5 mg tablets are yellow-orange, 5-sided D-shaped, film coated tablets, coded FLEX over 5 on one side and without coding on the other. The 10 mg tablets are butterscotch yellow, 5-sided D-shaped, film coated tablets, coded Flexeril on one side and without coding on the other.
How much Flexeril should I take?
For most patients, the recommended dose of Flexeril is 5 mg three times a day. Based on individual patient response, the dose may be increased to 10 mg three times a day. Use of Flexeril for periods longer than two or three weeks is not recommended. (see INDICATIONS AND USAGE ).
How much Flexeril should I give to elderly?
In elderly patients, Flexeril should be initiated with a 5 mg dose and titrated slowly upward.
How long does cyclobenzaprine stay in your system?
Cyclobenzaprine is eliminated quite slowly, with an effective half-life of 18 hours (range 8-37 hours; n=18); plasma clearance is 0.7 L/min. The plasma concentration of cyclobenzaprine is generally higher in the elderly and in patients with hepatic impairment.
What is the formula for cyclobenzaprine?
Cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride is a white, crystalline tricyclic amine salt with the empirical formula C 20 H 21 N•HCl and a molecular weight of 311.9. It has a melting point of 217˚C, and a pK a of 8.47 at 25˚C. It is freely soluble in water and alcohol, sparingly soluble in isopropanol, and insoluble in hydrocarbon solvents. If aqueous solutions are made alkaline, the free base separates. Cyclobenzaprine HCl is designated chemically as 3- ( 5H -dibenzo [ a, d] cyclohepten-5-ylidene)- N, N -dimethyl-1-propanamine hydrochloride, and has the following structural formula:
What are the symptoms of cyclobenzaprine overdose?
Rare but potentially critical manifestations of overdose are cardiac arrest, chest pain, cardiac dysrhythmias, severe hypotension, seizures, and neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Changes in the electrocardiogram, particularly in QRS axis or width, are clinically significant indicators of cyclobenzaprine toxicity.
What is Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)?
Cyclobenzaprine (Cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride), sold under the brand name Flexeril, is a muscle relaxer similar to tricyclic antidepressants.
Effects of Cyclobenzaprine abuse
Taking Flexeril in the recommended dosage can help improve sleep patterns, raise energy levels, increase motor functions, and pain relief. Flexeril does not produce any euphoric feelings or notable highs when abused but the muscle relaxant nature of the drug may cause people to take more than the recommended dosage.
Flexeril overdose
Another potential side effect from Flexeril abuse is cyclobenzaprine overdose, especially if taken in conjunction with other substances such as other CNS depressants like alcohol. Flexeril causes the body to become relaxed and abusing the substance in high doses can lead to cardiac arrest, low blood pressure, heart attack, and fatal seizures.
Is Flexeril addictive?
Flexeril produces a range of anticholinergic effects on the brain’s neurotransmitters which create relaxing or mildly euphoric effects. Cyclobenzaprine addiction can cause decreased mucus production in the nose and throat and a complaint of a constant sore throat. When Flexeril is abused a person may develop a dependence.
Finding treatment for Flexeril addiction
If taken in the recommended dosage, Flexeril can be an effective relief for muscle pain and spasm. However, any drug when abused can lead to dependence and the culmination of negative side effects can lead to addiction.
Flexeril FAQs
These are some of the most commonly asked questions about cyclobenzaprine and Flexeril:
Is Flexeril a narcotic?
Flexeril does not belong to the opioid family and is therefore not a narcotic agent. In the United States, Canada or internationally, Flexeril is not considered a controlled substance and should therefore not be considered a narcotic in any sense.
Is Flexeril addictive?
Addiction to drug is fairly subjective and depends upon the individual taking the drug and the associated medications that are taken with it.
Flexeril abuse
As previously mentioned there is a slight concern with the use of Flexeril by the US DEA. The primary concern that arises from the use of Flexeril is the fact that is utilised along with other medication that can be addictive and is utilised for abuse purposes.
Why is Flexeril used?
Flexeril may be used to heighten the effects of alcohol or other drugs when used recreationally. Prescription drugs are abused across almost all age, gender, race, cultural, and socioeconomic demographics, however. For example, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that prescription drug abuse is increasing ...
How old do you have to be to abuse Flexeril?
NIDA reports that young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 (according to 2014 data) abuse prescription drugs at the highest rates of any other age demographic. Young adults may use the Internet to access information on how to abuse Flexeril and the possible desirable effects that may come from the drug’s recreational use.
What is cyclobenzaprine used for?
Designed for the short-term relief of limited motion and pain that may be caused by muscle spasms, cyclobenzaprine is a central nervous system muscle relaxer that may stop hyperactive nerve firings that can cause muscles to spasm. The DEA reports that there were more than 25 million prescriptions written for cyclobenzaprine in 2011, ...
What to do if you overdose on Flexeril?
If an overdose on cyclobenzaprine is suspected, call 911. Immediate medical attention is always needed in cases of overdose. If you, or someone you love, have been struggling with Flexeril abuse, treatment is needed.
How is drug addiction treated?
The behavioral and emotional aspects of drug abuse and addiction are often treated with behavioral therapies and group and individual counseling sessions that work to improve coping mechanisms, communication skills, self-confidence, and mental health.
What is the cause of cyclobenzaprine overdose?
In the case of cyclobenzaprine, the Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology reports that more than 100 mg of the drug taken in one dose can cause a toxic overdose.
Is Flexeril recovery possible?
Recovery Is Possible. A prescription-based medication, cyclobenzaprine (known by the brand names Flexeril and Amrix) is similar to tricyclic antidepressants and being both diverted and abused, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) reports. Designed for the short-term relief of limited motion and pain that may be caused by muscle spasms, ...