Muscle Relaxers: Methocarbamol vs Cyclobenzaprine

However, the half-life of immediate-release cyclobenzaprine is 18 hours on average, with a range of 8-37 hours. The extended-release form typically has a half-life of hours. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur.

Drowsiness, dizziness, dry mouth, constipation, or tiredness may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment. This medication should only be used short-term (for 3 weeks or less) unless directed by your doctor. Within the last five years, emergency room department visits related to muscle relaxant abuse almost doubled; they increased from 15,830 to 31,763 visits.

• 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.
• Drug interactions may change how your medications work or increase your risk for serious side effects.
• The extended-release formulation should be administered at the same time each day.
• While it can be abused if it’s mismanaged, it really isn’t worth the health risks the high offers.

Overdose symptoms may include severe drowsiness, vomiting, fast heartbeats, tremors, agitation, or hallucinations. Do not use Flexeril if you have taken an MAO inhibitor in the past 14 days. MAO inhibitors include isocarboxazid, linezolid, phenelzine, rasagiline, selegiline, and tranylcypromine. Cyclobenzaprine HCl relieves flexeril and clonidine skeletal muscle spasm of local origin without interfering with muscle function. It is ineffective in muscle spasm due to central nervous system disease. As management of overdose is complex and changing, it is recommended that the physician contact a poison control center for current information on treatment.

Muscle Relaxant Flexeril 5 mg as effective alone as with Ibuprofen

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. The acute oral LD50 of FLEXERIL is approximately 338 and 425 mg/kg in mice and rats, respectively. Cyclobenzaprine comes as a tablet and an extended-release capsule to take by mouth. 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.

FLEXERIL(R) 5 mg for the Treatment of Muscle Spasm Reaches … – Pharmaceutical Online

FLEXERIL(R) 5 mg for the Treatment of Muscle Spasm Reaches ….

Posted: Mon, 02 Jan 2017 16:31:41 GMT [source]

Brand name Robaxin is approximately $95 for 30 tablets of the 750mg dose with a BuzzRx savings card. Generic cyclobenzaprine may be under $0.50 for 30 tablets of the 10mg dose through the BuzzRx discount program. Methocarbamol can be used for long or short-term treatment as advised by a doctor. On the other hand, cyclobenzaprine is generally not prescribed for longer than two or three weeks.

There have been a number of fatalities reported as a result of the Flexeril and alcohol combination that occurred from physical harm caused by over-intoxication. Cyclobenzaprine can increase the effects of CNS depressants, such as alcohol, opioids, allergy medications, and sleeping pills. This enables the provider to evaluate for any potential interactions and helps them keep the patient safe.

Medical Professionals

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. Cyclobenzaprine is a centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxant structurally related to tricyclic antidepressants. Cyclobenzaprine is a tricyclic amine salt that works in the central nervous system (CNS) as a depressant that reduces muscle hyperactivity.

Do not take this drug for more than 3 weeks without talking to your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor. Cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxer used to treat acute muscle pain and prevent muscle spasms caused by an injury or accident. Cyclobenzaprine also has some sedative effects which may result in sleepiness and fatigue.

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Do not use the extended-release capsules if you have used an MAO inhibitor (MAOI) such as Eldepryl®, Marplan®, Nardil®, or Parnate® within 14 days of each other. Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. If you cannot swallow the capsule whole, you may open the capsule and sprinkle the contents over one tablespoon of applesauce.

It’s not considered a dangerous method of getting rid of specific muscular pain. It is given to patients who are more likely to abuse opiate pain killers and is considered less risky for abuse and addiction. Cyclobenzaprine’s plasma concentrations average 40% higher in the elderly, making these patients more at risk of the drug’s harmful effects.