Cyclobenzaprine (Flexiril) is a skeletal muscle relaxant drug for treating muscular spasms, occurring due to sudden onset of certain musculoskeletal conditions. Cyclobenzaprine relaxes certain muscles in your body. Relieves you from discomfort, pain, stiffness because of a strain, sprain, or an injury in your muscles. A generic class of medication available only by prescription from a certified doctor. But can I take 2 cyclobenzaprine 10 mg at the same time? It is useful to have needful inputs.
Muscle spasm is a medical condition that occurs among all age-groups. It is more-likely to show up among adults – especially, the elderly, pregnant women as well as athletes. Muscular spasms can even occur due to underlying medical conditions such as neurological disorders, thyroid diseases, or cirrhosis.
Caregivers generally do not prescribe oral drugs for treatment of muscle spasm - except in a few instances. Risk factors triggering muscular spasms include dehydration, overexertion and stress. Most forms of spasms go-away on their own if they are temporary with Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation (RICE). However, spasms can also be chronic or intermittent in nature. Certain Over-the-Counter (OTC) Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) even help relieve such conditions.
Cyclobenzaprine - an antispasmodic drug – is effective in treating muscle spasms. Beware of overusing cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) as it may cause serotonin syndrome. This occurs due to serotonin build-up in your system.
But can I take 2 cyclobenzaprine 10 mg at the same time?
Caregivers recommend a 10-mg-dose of cyclobenzaprine once or thrice a day, depending on your muscular condition. If you take two 10-mg pills as a single dose, this can cause serious side effects such as drowsiness and inability to focus - especially while driving or while working on heavy machines. Caveat: You are likely to encounter accidental falls and such incidents may harm you as well as those near now.
Cyclobenzaprine is known to interact with alcohol; caregivers strongly advise you to avoid taking alcohol during all through your medication plan. If taken under the influence of alcoholic beverages, this med may produce undesirable side effects like nausea, difficulties to pass stools, depression, fainting or shallow breathing.
Cyclobenzaprine 10 mg Pill – How Long Does it Last, Cyclobenzaprine 10 mg usually lasts about 8 to 12 hours in the body. It’s commonly taken up to three times a day to relieve muscle spasms. Some people may feel drowsy or relaxed for several hours after taking it. The effects can vary depending on your age, metabolism, and overall health condition. Always follow your doctor’s directions.
Caregivers mostly prescribe only cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) or as a combination of multiple drugs, along with sufficient amount of rest and physical therapy. Cyclobenzaprine lessens pains and effectively improves your muscular wellbeing.
However, using this med for muscular spasticity (i.e., firmness of muscles) may turn ineffective, as it not an anti-spasticity drug. This means patients with spasticity – associated with cerebral or spinal cord injuries / children with cerebral palsy may not be able to find relief by using cyclobenzaprine. The former is a harmless and a short-term condition with a potential for diagnosis while latter is a symptom of an underlying musculoskeletal and (possibly) a neurological ailment.
Cyclobenzaprine uses
Cyclobenzaprine is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs for treating severe muscle cramps. It is a primary recommendation for treating minor spells of cramping as well as spasms. It is also beneficial to patients with medical conditions like fibromyalgia / neuropathic pain and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) at almost all age-groups.
Unlike other antidepressants – i.e., those prescribed to improve moods and reduce symptoms of depression, Cyclobenzaprine is a tricyclic amine that works on your Central Nervous System (CNS); key ingredients are known to reduce hyperactivity at the nerve-cell level. Such antidepressants can play a vital role in treating multiple conditions including mood swings, nerve pain, migraine, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, etc.
Who should avoid cyclobenzaprine?
Cyclobenzaprine works on your CNS; it blocks pain signals sent to the brain, by interfering with serotonin transmission in your spinal cord. It thus relaxes muscles and offers relief from discomforts, triggered by injuries.
Cyclobenzaprine is also capable of treating sleep-related disorders arising out of muscle pain stimulus. The drug brings froth sedative effects to induce sleep and drowsiness in patients; these effects are known to last for eight (8) hours post each 100-mg dose.
Cyclobenzaprine remains effective in your system for 4 to 6 hours after taking the drug. You need to know this muscle relaxant has a half-life of 18 hours; this is the time it takes for your system to clear (eliminate) half of this drug from the human body.
Few reports reveal this med may interact with a few other drugs. Patients with bladder issues, Parkinson’s disease and other nerve-related conditions should take cyclobenzaprine only based on their caregiver’s advice.
You must exercise care if you have conditions relating to your heart and liver, malfunction of your thyroid gland, etc. Moreover, women who are currently nursing an infant and those who are pregnant must use this drug only after their caregiver approves of its use.
Side effects of cyclobenzaprine
Potential side effects of cyclobenzaprine include restlessness, drowsiness and impaired reflexes, ringing inside your ears (Tinnitus), formation of rashes on skin (hives) fainting or nausea. Other rarely-observed yet critical side-effects include erratic heartbeats – also known as arrhythmia, constipation, troubles staying focused, inexplicable weakness of muscles, hypotension, etc.
Beware of overdosing with this med: such practices can lead to serious complications or may even prove to be fatal. You are advised not to combined it with meds like oxycodone; such practices may cause life-threatening conditions such as serotonin syndrome. If you sense palpitation, sweating profusely, turning agitated, delirium, and an elevated heart rate, take help on an emergency mode.
You should never self-medicate with this muscle relaxant. Before you decide to take cyclobenzaprine, you need to consult with a qualified medical professional about its side effects and outcomes of an overdose. After your caregiver examines your health condition, meds like cyclobenzaprine are prescribed only if your condition needs such treatment. Initially, the doses are maintained at a very low level; strength is gradually increased after assessing how your body tolerates the doses.
If you witness any unusual side effects – soon after using cyclobenzaprine, you need to inform your caregiver immediately or visit any nearby healthcare facility on an urgent basis. Neglecting acute symptoms may lead to near-fatal or fatal outcomes.
Disclaimer
Information provided here are only of supplementary nature. Information shared here does not substitute a qualified doctor’s advice. This website is not suggesting intake of this drug as safe or appropriate. Hence it is advised to talk to your doctor before consuming this med or any other drug.