Flexeril

Flexeril is 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.

This medication comes in tablet form and is usually taken 3 times a day. Use is recommended for only 2-3 weeks.

Common side effects of Flexeril include dry mouth, fatigue, and upset stomach.  

Flexeril can cause dizziness and drowsiness. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how Flexeril affects you. Do not drink alcohol while taking Flexeril. Alcohol may intensify these side effects.

Flexeril is a prescription medication used to relax muscles and relieve pain due to muscle spasms.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Take Flexeril exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

Your doctor will prescribe the appropriate dosage of Flexeril depending on the condition being treated and your response to the medication.  

The range of dosages for the tablets is 5 to 10 mg of Flexeril taken 3 times a day.

In elderly patients, Flexeril may be started at a lower dose and titrated slowly upward.

Flexeril is not to be taken for more than 3 weeks.

Serious side effects have been reported with Flexeril including:

• General: Flexeril should be used with caution in certain patients. Tell your doctor if you:
  • have a history of urinary retention
  • have a history of glaucoma or of high intraocular pressure (high pressure of the fluid in the eyes)
  • take anticholinergic medication such as atropine (Atroposil) and ipratropium (Atrovent)
• Impaired liver function: Flexeril can increase liver tests and impair the liver’s function. Tell your doctor if you have a history of liver disease.
• Serotonin syndrome: Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms of serotonin syndrome:
  • confusion
  • agitation
  • hallucinations
  • high body temperature
  • fast heartbeat
  • tremors
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
• Hypersensitivity (allergic) reaction: Tell your healthcare provider right away if you have some or all of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction:
  • swelling
  • itchy skin
  • hives
  • rash
  • difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • hoarseness

Flexeril can cause dizziness and drowsiness. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how Flexeril affects you. Do not drink alcohol while taking Flexeril. Alcohol may intensify this side effect.

Do not take Flexeril if you:

• are allergic to Flexeril or any of its ingredients 
• have used monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors such as selegiline (Emsam) and phenelzine (Nardil) in the last 14 days
• have a history of heart problems such as a heart attack, arrhythmia (abnormal heart beat or rhythm), heart block, conduction disturbances, or heart failure
• have hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid

Common side effects of Flexeril include:

• dry mouth
• upset stomach
• dizziness or drowsiness
• fatigue/tiredness
• constipation
• nausea
• headache
• blurred vision
• nervousness or confusion

This is not a complete list of Flexeril side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Serious side effects have been reported with Flexeril. See “Drug Precautions” section.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

• monoamine oxide (MAO) inhibitors such as selegiline (Emsam) and phenelzine (Nardil)
• alcohol
• barbiturates such as phenobarbital (Donnatal) or other central nervous system depressants
• guanethidine (Ismelin)
• tramadol (Ultram)
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft)
• serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) such as venlafaxine (Effexor) and duloxetine (Cymbalta)
• tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) such as amitriptyline (Elavil) or clomipramine (Anafranil)
• anticholinergic medications such as ipratropium (Atrovent) or tiotropium (Spiriva)
• bupropion (Zyban, Wellbutrin)
• meperidine (Demerol)

This is not a complete list of Flexeril drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

Flexeril falls into category B. Studies in animals have failed to demonstrate a risk to the unborn baby and there are no well-controlled studies in pregnant women.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if Flexeril is excreted in human breast milk or if it will harm your nursing baby.

Cyclobenzaprine is not to be taken for more than 3 weeks.

Do not drink alcohol while taking cyclobenzaprine. Alcohol may intensify these side effects.

Cyclobenzaprine may cause dry mouth