Flexeril and Cyclobenzaprine: Misuse, Risks, and Addiction Revive Recovery & Detox Services

There are over 12,000 people in the U.S who will go to the emergency room looking to be treated for Flexeril overdose. A study showed that 209 people who overdosed on Flexeril on its own survived the ordeal. Mixing the drug with other substances, however, has shown to cause accidents leading to death. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

The extended-release form typically has a half-life of hours. RxList does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. All patients suspected of an overdose with FLEXERIL should receive gastrointestinal decontamination. This should include large volume gastric lavage followed by activated charcoal. If consciousness is impaired, the airway should be secured prior to lavage and emesis is contraindicated. It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk.

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.

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That means that both Flexeril and alcohol have a tendency to slow down the body’s natural processes. One of the most important bodily processes that these two drugs can end up impacting is respiration. When used alone, alcohol can end up slowing respiration to deadly levels due to alcohol poisoning. Flexeril what’s the half-life of flexeril abuse can also end up leading to dangerously slow respiration. When Flexeril and alcohol are mixed, however, these qualities can actually end up overlapping, making the potentially fatal risk of low respiration even more likely to occur. The alcohol also increases the side effects of cyclobenzaprine.

As of this writing, cyclobenzaprine isn’t FDA-approved for children younger than 15. The long-acting capsules are recommended for patients 18 years of age and older and come in 15 mg doses. Some patients may require two doses equaling 30 mg at one time or two 15 mg doses twice a day.

How to take Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)?

Zanaflex and Flexeril can enhance their effects and lead to increased dizziness and sedation. Flexeril (What is Flexeril?) is a brand-name drug originally FDA-approved in 1977. The generic version of Flexeril, cyclobenzaprine, is widely available.

• This is a drug that isn’t usually considered one of the more common drugs people need to recover from.
• That way, you can find out for sure if what you’re dealing with is an actual addiction.
• While the FDA indicates that there have not been enough studies involving people with hepatic impairment, the potential for the drug interacting negatively with the liver is high.
• People that combine Flexeril and alcohol also may not think properly and are more susceptible to making bad choices.

The most common adverse reactions to cyclobenzaprine are somnolence, dry mucous membranes, dizziness, and confusion. Less commonly, tachycardia, dysarthria, disorientation, and hallucinations have been reported [2]. While all the medicines are effective, one specific muscle relaxant might work better than others for you. Extreme stress can cause increased muscle tension and worsen your current pain or discomfort. Finding new ways to destress and relax can help ease muscle strain while also reducing anxiety and improving your mental health. The less stressed you are, the more relaxed you become and the easier you may find it to fall asleep at night.

Will I Need to go Through Detox to Recover From a Flexeril Addiction?

Rather than activating opioid receptors like other prescription painkillers, Flexeril instead blocks certain nerve impulses that are sent to the brain. Just because cyclobenzaprine isn’t an opioid though doesn’t mean it hasn’t become a substance of abuse. Given the potential for abuse of this drug, it’s important to know the proper dosage for this particular muscle relaxer. You and your doctor will work out the proper cyclobenzaprine dosage for your particular situation. However, in general, physicians will prescribe Flexeril dosages according to the guidelines below as provided by the Mayo Clinic. It can also enhance the effects of agents with CNS depressant activity.

If you are not able to swallow the extended-release capsule whole, mix the contents of the capsule with applesauce. After you eat the mixture, take a drink, and swish and swallow to make sure that you have received all the medication. If you believe you’re addicted to Flexeril, please don’t put off getting help. It’s important to talk with an addiction treatment specialist as soon as you can. That way, you can find out for sure if what you’re dealing with is an actual addiction.

Users chase the cyclobenzaprine high and risk becoming addicted to the drug. Drug addiction can come in many forms from a variety of sources. Though some addictions start on the street, many begin within the home with prescription medications.