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

In light of these findings, therapy with FLEXERIL in the elderly should be initiated with a 5 mg dose and titrated slowly upward. 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. For most patients, the recommended dose of Flexeril is 5 mg three times a day. 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.

At oral doses of up to 10 times the human dose, cyclobenzaprine did not adversely affect the reproductive performance or fertility of male or female rats. Cyclobenzaprine did not demonstrate mutagenic activity flexeril.live in the male mouse at dose levels of up to 20 times the human dose. You should have regular appointments with your healthcare provider when taking a muscle relaxant to assess how well it’s working.

• Cyclobenzaprine is used to help relax certain muscles in your body.
• The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment.
• The acute oral LD50 of FLEXERIL is approximately 338 and 425 mg/kg in mice and rats, respectively.
• If you take too much Flexeril, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor. 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. In light of these findings, therapy with FLEXERIL in the elderly should be initiated with a 5 mg dose and titrated slowly upward. Overdose symptoms may include severe drowsiness, vomiting, fast heartbeats, tremors, agitation, or hallucinations. Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor, usually once daily. Doing so can release all of the drugs at once, increasing the risk of side effects.

Uses of Flexeril

Your doctor may choose to speak to you about Flexeril, a commonly used muscle relaxant in cases of persistent pain. Patients with low back pain or fibromyalgia may benefit from treatment with cyclobenzaprine. Higher doses of cyclobenzaprine or tizanidine would be appropriate to promote sedation in cases of more severe discomfort or perceived muscular spasm. Although there appears to be insufficient data on metaxalone and methocarbamol, these may be useful in patients who cannot tolerate the sedative properties of cyclobenzaprine or tizanidine. Of note, methocarbamol costs substantially less than metaxalone.

Cyclobenzaprine reduced or abolished skeletal muscle hyperactivity in several animal models. Animal studies indicate that cyclobenzaprine does not act at the neuromuscular junction or directly on skeletal muscle. Evidence suggests that the net effect of cyclobenzaprine is a reduction of tonic somatic motor activity, influencing both gamma (γ) and alpha (α) motor systems.

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For more information on this medication choose from the list of selections below. Animal studies don’t always predict the way humans would respond. Therefore, this drug should only be used in pregnancy if clearly needed.

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. The patient should rinse their mouth to ensure that they have swallowed all the contents. Muscle relaxers have a potential for misuse and addiction, especially carisoprodol and diazepam. Prolonged use can lead to increased tolerance and physical dependence. Healthcare providers mainly prescribe antispastic muscle relaxers to treat spasticity.

What Can I Do If Flexeril Doesn’t Help My Pain?

Flexerilis a prescription medication used to relax muscles and relieve pain due to muscle spasms. Flexeril belongs to a class of drugs called muscle relaxants, which help by preventing muscle spasms without affecting overall muscle control and function. Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects. This document does not contain all possible drug interactions. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist.

Muscle relaxers (also called muscle relaxants) are prescription medications that affect muscle function. Healthcare providers prescribe them to treat several symptoms, such as muscle spasms, spasticity and musculoskeletal pain. Although rare, deaths may occur from overdosage with FLEXERIL. Multiple drug ingestion (including alcohol) is common in deliberate cyclobenzaprine overdose. As management of overdose is complex and changing, it is recommended that the physician contact a poison control center for current information on treatment. Signs and symptoms of toxicity may develop rapidly after cyclobenzaprine overdose; therefore, hospital monitoring is required as soon as possible.

Adverse Reactions/Side Effects

In case of acute cyclobenzaprine overdose, emergency medicine physicians and triage nurses should stabilize the patient. If EKG demonstrates QRS prolongation, the clinician should initiate sodium bicarbonate therapy. In severe overdose, ventricular arrhythmias and seizures may require MICU-level of care under the supervision of a critical care physician. As discussed above, the clinician should consider contacting the poison control center in refractory cases.