Cyclobenzaprine Oral Route Proper Use

The study duration averaged 12.3 days, ranging from 7 to 18 days (median, 14 days). While muscle relaxants have abuse potential,14 we did not find studies describing abuse of cyclobenzaprine. We conclude that cyclobenzaprine is significantly better at relieving back pain than placebo at all times measured. Patients can expect about a 5-fold increase in the odds of experiencing improvement by 14 days and up to 2 SDs of improvement, a moderate effect size. Clinicians will need to treat 3 patients to improve the symptoms of 1.

• Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this drug, especially drowsiness, confusion, constipation, or trouble urinating.
• They’re generally classified as antispastic drugs or antispasmodic drugs, depending on their mechanism of action.
• Eight of 46 RCTs that were retrievable enrolled patients with acute muscle spasm and pain of the neck and/or back.

Our Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication. Cyclobenzaprine was originally intended for use as an antidepressant (8). As such, if you’re on other antidepressants while taking cyclobenzaprine, your doctor should closely monitor your treatment course (8).

What should I do if I forget a dose?

Flexeril is commonly prescribed to induce pain relief from muscle spasms and improve motor skills, sleep, and energy levels by generating pain relief. These feelings may potentially be a cause for misuse of Flexeril and lead to addictive effects. Antispastic medications are effective in treating spasticity, but high doses can lead to unwanted side effects. Other treatments can help with spasticity as well, including physical therapy and Botox® injections. This article focuses on skeletal muscle relaxants, as opposed to smooth muscle relaxants.

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Since many of these treatments may be operating on different aspects of back pain, there may be an additive effect. On the other hand, overmedication is a common problem among patients, and more may not be better. Studies to look at back pain management with a combination of common therapies are needed. Some clinicians, well versed with the sedative effects of cyclobenzaprine, prescribe it for the short term as a nighttime medicine. Whether similar benefits will accrue with a single nighttime dose is uncertain.

Side Effects

Other drugs may interact with cyclobenzaprine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. The study quality was assessed independently in duplicate, with substantial interrater agreement (κ, 0.79). In 2016 over 118,000 British Columbians filled at least one prescription for cyclobenzaprine. Nearly 300,000 total prescriptions were filled, at a mean dose of 17 mg/day, and initial duration of 15 days.

The information is produced and reviewed by over 200 medical professionals with the goal of providing trusted, uniquely informative information for people with painful health conditions. She has several years of experience in preparing and supplying prescription medications and advising patients regarding over-the-counter medications in a retail and hospital setting. Combining a muscle relaxant with alcohol or another medication that also has a sedating effect is especially dangerous. Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects.

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A recent study on patients with orofacial myofascial pain compared the effect of adding therapy with clonazepam, cyclobenzaprine or placebo to a universally applied self-care and patient education programme (Herman et al 2002). The results suggest that cyclobenzaprine is superior flexeril.live to both placebo and clonazepam when added to self-care and education for the management of jaw pain upon awakening. In this study cyclobenzaprine (10mg/d) failed to significantly improve sleep in the short term but this may have been due to the relatively low dose employed.

If you cannot swallow the capsule whole, you may open the capsule and sprinkle the contents over one tablespoon of applesauce. Rinse the mouth to make sure all of the medicine have been swallowed. In light of these findings, therapy with FLEXERIL in the elderly should be initiated with a 5 mg dose and titrated slowly upward. Safety and effectiveness of FLEXERIL in pediatric patients below 15 years of age have not been established. Because cyclobenzaprine is closely related to the tricyclic antidepressants, some of which are known to be excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when FLEXERIL is administered to a nursing woman.

One of our studies18 that used patient ratings had results consistent with those based on physician ratings. Another study30 explored the potential biasing effect of higher rates of adverse effects by stratifying patient results by the presence or absence of adverse effects. This study30 found the rate of improvement between both groups to be equal, and concluded that the potential unmasking of treatment group by adverse effects had no impact on patient outcomes.

Before taking this medicine

For a thorough understanding of potential side effects, please consult a physician. Another rare side effect is an allergic reaction to the drug, manifested by hives and trouble breathing. Muscle relaxers can cause more serious side effects like fainting and blurred vision. Talk to your provider if you experience any bothersome side effects.