Guide To Cyclobenzaprine

Cyclobenzaprine belongs to a class of medications known as muscle relaxants. It is primarily used to treat musculoskeletal conditions. The immediate-release tablet is available in doses of five to ten milligrams. Both children and adults can take it. The extended-release capsule is only approved for adults and comes in doses of fifteen and thirty milligrams. Patients typically take the immediate-release tablet once every eight hours. The extended-release tablet is taken once a day. It is generally recommended that patients take this medicine for no more than three weeks unless their doctor determines a longer course of treatment is necessary.

Many patients will take cyclobenzaprine as a muscle spasm treatment. This medication can also act as a treatment for sprains and other injuries. In all cases, patients need a prescription to buy cyclobenzaprine. Of course, some individuals may want to try natural pain relief for sprains before taking this medication. Furthermore, individuals need to understand how this medication works first.

Medication Class

Cyclobenzaprine belongs to a group of medications that most individuals refer to as muscle relaxants. Some experts classify it even further as a skeletal muscle relaxant. Other medications in this class include metaxalone and chlorzoxazone. Some experts consider other medications as skeletal muscle relaxants, though they may be primarily considered a different class of medication. One example of one of these medications is diazepam, which is considered a benzodiazepine. This is evidence indicating that muscle relaxants do not all have the same chemical structure and often work differently in an individual's brain to perform the same function.

Get the details on how this medication works next.

How It Works

Currently, the exact mechanism by which cyclobenzaprine works is not entirely understood. As a muscle relaxant, doctors recognize cyclobenzaprine acts on the central nervous system. The medication is believed to decrease the signals coming from the brain that tell the muscles to spasm. The medicine is structurally similar to tricyclic antidepressants. It seems to function in much the same way as they do. It binds to the brain's serotonin receptors and increases norepinephrine to lessen pain and reduce the number and intensity of spasms the patient experiences. Additionally, it is believed that cyclobenzaprine inhibits the nerve impulses that trigger pain.

Read about the uses for this medication next.

Uses

Cyclobenzaprine is approved for the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and muscle spasms. Patients typically use it to treat acute musculoskeletal conditions such as muscle strains, sprains, and soreness resulting from an accident or injuries due to sports or the workplace. Patients often take this medication along with non-steroidal anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen to improve pain relief.

Doctors recommend that cyclobenzaprine be used as part of a treatment program that includes rest, activity modification, and physical therapy. Doctors sometimes choose to prescribe this medication for 'off-label' uses. For example, it is often considered to treat fibromyalgia, tinnitus, insomnia, and both migraine and tension headaches. The medicine can improve sleep and pain control for patients with these conditions.

Get familiar with the potential side effects now.

Potential Side Effects

Patients who take cyclobenzaprine may experience a range of potential side effects. Drowsiness and dizziness are very common. These are most likely to occur within the first few hours after the patient takes their tablet. Other commonly reported side effects include nausea, heartburn, constipation, dry mouth, and fatigue. When these effects are mild, they will normally resolve within a few weeks. However, patients should let their doctor know if any of these effects persist or worsen.

Occasionally, this medication can lead to more serious side effects. For example, patients could notice chest pain, a fast or irregular heartbeat, breathing or swallowing difficulties, vision difficulties, and trouble with speech or understanding speech. Patients should seek immediate medical care if any of these side effects develop. In rare cases, this medication may trigger a potentially life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome. Potential symptoms include nausea, seizures, hallucinations, restlessness, and agitation. Emergency medical services should be called if serotonin syndrome is suspected.

Discover the precautions to remember when taking this medication next.

Precautions To Remember

Before cyclobenzaprine is prescribed, patients should go over their complete medical history and current medications with their doctor. In particular, their doctor will need to know if they are recovering from a heart attack or if they have a heart blockage, heart failure, heart rhythm irregularities, or any other issues with the electrical impulses of the heart. Doctors will also need to know if the patient has an overactive thyroid gland, liver disease, increased eye pressure, or difficulties urinating. Cyclobenzaprine may not be safe for individuals with these health concerns. It should not be taken while pregnant or breastfeeding. Patients aged sixty-five or older should check with their doctor about this medication's risks and benefits for their particular health concerns. In general, cyclobenzaprine is not recommended for individuals in this age group. This is because it is not considered to be as safe or effective as alternative drugs that can be used for treating the same conditions. Patients who consume alcohol should check with their doctor about how to do so safely while on this medication. The reason is that it typically increases the effects of alcohol on the body.

If a dose of cyclobenzaprine is missed, it should be taken as soon as the patient remembers. However, if the patient remembers the missed dose when it is almost time to take the next one, they should skip the missed dose. Taking two doses to compensate for the missed one is unsafe. The extended-release capsule should be stored away from light. All forms of this medication should be stored in the original container with the lid tightly closed. Cyclobenzaprine needs to be stored at room temperature and should be kept away from moisture and heat.

Learn about the connection between cyclobenzaprine and allergies next.

Cyclobenzaprine And Allergies

Allergies to cyclobenzaprine are quite rare. Patients do not often experience a severe allergic reaction to this medication. However, it is vital to understand the symptoms of an allergic reaction anyway, since such a reaction is still possible. The symptoms of a severe allergic reaction to this medication include a rash, dizziness, and trouble breathing. Other serious signs are itching and swelling, particularly of the throat, tongue, and face. Patients must receive immediate medical attention if they deal with any of these warning signs. This means calling 911 for emergency services. It is also helpful for patients to call their doctor and stop taking their medication.

Read about the potential medication interactions next.

Potential Medication Interactions

Cyclobenzaprine is known to interact with at least three hundred other drugs. Severe interactions exist between it and pimozide, arbutamine, cisapride, halofantrine, grepafloxacin, sparfloxacin, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Thus, patients should not take any of these medicines while using cyclobenzaprine. Potentially serious drug interactions may occur if cyclobenzaprine is taken with other muscle relaxants or with opioids or medications that depress the respiratory system. Serious interactions also exist between this medication and carbamazepine, tramadol, guanethidine, and guanadrel. Moderate interactions could occur if this medication is taken with fluoxetine, paroxetine, cimetidine, sertraline, or amprenavir. Patients should always ensure their doctor and pharmacist both have their most up-to-date list of medications. They should ask their pharmacist to double-check for potential medication interactions before dispensing cyclobenzaprine.

Continue reading to reveal the common dosage recommendations next.

Common Dosage Recommendations

As it is a prescription medication, patients must follow the directions that their doctor provides. The instructions can vary, since patients may need cyclobenzaprine for various reasons, are taking it in different forms, or their condition does not respond to the same dose as another individual. However, doctors will often use general guidelines when they are prescribing this medication to their patients. Adults taking the extended-release capsule often start with fifteen milligrams a day to relax stiff muscles. However, some of them will need thirty milligrams daily. Depending on the patient, this can be one capsule with the whole dose or two capsules of fifteen milligrams. If patients are taking regular tablets, a good guideline is ten milligrams three times daily. This dose can be larger, but should not exceed sixty milligrams a day.

Uncover the details on common medication alternatives next.

Common Medication Alternatives

Patients may need an alternative to cyclobenzaprine for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons include avoiding side effects, different symptoms, and different severity of symptoms. In most cases, doctors will prescribe a different muscle relaxant. Common options that they will choose instead of cyclobenzaprine include carisoprodol and baclofen. Carisoprodol treats stiff muscles as well as muscle spasms. Baclofen is particularly effective at dealing with pain from spinal injuries and multiple sclerosis. Two other medication alternatives for cyclobenzaprine are orphenadrine and chlorzoxazone. The former treats muscle pain from injuries and also helps with muscle relaxation. The other medication deals with stiffness and spasms in the muscles.

Get advice for taking cyclobenzaprine next.

Advice For Taking It

Many patients will take cyclobenzaprine whole with a glass of water. However, others can struggle with doing this. Patients who cannot the extended-release capsule can open it and mix the contents with applesauce. Of course, they must consume the applesauce immediately without chewing it. In addition, patients should drink a small amount of water after eating the applesauce. This ensures that they receive the full dose of their medication. Some patients may deal with mild stomach upset on this medication. Taking cyclobenzaprine with a meal or even a snack helps deal with this side effect. Drinking water is important even with a meal or snack.