Cyclobenzaprine: Uses, Interactions, Mechanism of Action DrugBank Online

Protect the patient’s airway, establish an intravenous line and initiate gastric decontamination. Observation with cardiac monitoring and observation for signs of CNS or respiratory depression, hypotension, cardiac dysrhythmias and/or conduction blocks, and seizures is necessary. If signs of toxicity occur at any time during this period, extended monitoring is required. Monitoring of plasma drug levels should not guide management of the patient. Dialysis is probably of no value because of low plasma concentrations of the drug. 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.

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Less commonly, tachycardia, dysarthria, disorientation, and hallucinations have been reported [2]. Drug comparisons between cyclobenzaprine and methocarbamol in terms of side effects do not reveal many differences. Both medications can cause adverse effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, headache, nausea, and fatigue. Cyclobenzaprine tends to cause more drowsiness than methocarbamol.

The biggest difference between cyclobenzaprine and tizanidine is the difference between short and long-term care. Because cyclobenzaprine isn’t effective for longer than two weeks, it’s not as useful for long-term issues like neurological disorders like cerebral palsy. The drug can be used with physical therapy, which helps strengthen muscles and lead to lasting improvements within that two-week span. Chlorzoxazone assists in managing muscle spasms by depressing the reflexes involved in producing these painful contractions.

FDA Drug Information

Check the labels on all your medicines (such as allergy or cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Other potential effects of overdosage include any of the symptoms listed under ADVERSE REACTIONS. For most patients, the recommended dose of Flexeril is 5 mg three times a day.

• If you have muscle spasms or muscle pain and plan to take skeletal muscle relaxants, please work with your healthcare provider to find the one that works best for you.
• Patients must closely monitor their condition when starting treatment on either drug and should seek medical help immediately if there are any signs of allergic reactions or worsening symptoms.
• Use of a medication taper may be warranted for chronic-use patients.
• Both these drugs should be used along with rest, physical therapy or other measures for effective treatment of muscular pains and discomforts.

However, they can have some distinctions that you and your doctor should consider when looking for the right medication for your needs. Learn more about how tizanidine and cyclobenzaprine compare. Both Chlorzoxazone and Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) have a long-standing history of use in the treatment of muscle spasms, backed by extensive clinical studies indicating their efficacy over placebo treatments. They work through different mechanisms, with Chlorzoxazone acting centrally at the spinal cord and subcortical levels while Flexeril targets the brain stem to achieve muscle relaxation. Cyclobenzaprine, under brand names such as Flexeril, was prescribed to approximately 16 million people in USA during that same year. Cyclobenzaprine accounts for nearly half of all muscle relaxant prescriptions in the US.

Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription/nonprescription drugs and herbal products) and share it with your doctor and pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicines without your doctor’s approval. For patients experiencing muscle spasms or severe pain, certain types of medications can help in relieving discomfort and managing symptoms.

What is the most important information I should know about cyclobenzaprine?

They act on different aspects of the nervous system but are often prescribed for similar conditions such as musculoskeletal pain or spasms. Skeletal muscle relaxants are prescription medications commonly used to treat muscle pain and muscle spasms. If you have back pain or have suffered a strain or sprain, your healthcare provider may offer you a skeletal muscle relaxant such as methocarbamol (Robaxin) or cyclobenzaprine (Fexmid, Amrix). 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.

Cyclobenzaprine is considered a skeletal muscle relaxant because of the way it affects the body’s nervous system. Once the drug enters your body, it triggers your brain and nervous system to relax different muscles in the body, simultaneously relieving the pain and discomfort you feel. Muscle relaxers such as these act like a depressant for your body’s central nervous system. This causes a sedative effect and prevents your nerves from sending pain signals to your brain. Cyclobenzaprine is used together with rest and physical therapy to relieve muscle spasms caused by painful conditions such as an injury.

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. Less frequent dosing should be considered for hepatically impaired or elderly patients (see PRECAUTIONS, Impaired Hepatic Function, and Use in the Elderly). Our Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

Flexeril, the brand name for cyclobenzaprine, is a muscle relaxant that works by blocking nerve impulses (or pain sensations) sent to your brain. It was first approved by the FDA in 1977 and is often used alongside physical therapy and rest to treat skeletal muscle conditions flexeril and meloxicam such as pain or injury. Unlike Chlorzoxazone, Flexeril does not directly act on the muscles; instead it primarily acts within the central nervous system at brain stem level. This can result in fewer side effects related to direct muscular interaction such as weakness.