Flexeril Side Effects
- drowsiness
- dry mouth
- dizziness
- upset stomach
If you experience any of the following symptoms while taking Flexeril, call your doctor immediately:
- severe skin rash
- swelling of the face or tongue
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
- irregular heart rate
- chest pain
- fever
- seizures
Warnings & Recalls for Flexeril
Before taking Flexeril,
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to cyclobenzaprine, which is the active ingredient in Flexeril, or any other drugs.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription drugs you are taking or have taken within the last 2 weeks, especially medications for depression, seizures, allergies, coughs, or colds; MAO inhibitors, tranylcypromine; sedatives; sleeping pills and tranquilizers. Be sure to tell them what vitamins and supplements that you are taking while being administered this medication.
- tell your doctor if you have an overactive thyroid gland, glaucoma, heart disease or difficulty urinating.
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are nursing. If you become pregnant while taking Flexeril, call your doctor immediately.
- talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking Flexeril if you are 65 years of age or older. Older adults should not usually take Flexeril because it is not as safe or effective as other medications that can be used to treat the same condition.
- you should know that this drug may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how Flexeril affects you.
- remember that alcohol can add to the drowsiness caused by Flexeril.
As of yet, there hasn’t been a voluntary recall by the manufacturer or a recall initiated by the FDA. Consumers should however know about the abuse potential of this drug, which is in the classification of muscle relaxants.
Flexeril Treatment and Use
Flexeril | Cyclobenzaprine is a drug that’s a muscle relaxant that’s used to alleviate skeletal muscle spasms and acute pain in musculoskeletal conditions. It is manufactured by the company ALZA in the US. Its known as one of the most well-studied drug for reasons of musculoskeletal conditions and has also been given the go-ahead for off-label usage for fibromyalgia treatment, thus a bedtime formulation of Flexeril is underway. Sometimes Flexeril is also administered as a sleep-aid.
After a patient sustains an injury which causes muscle spasms, these spasms may occur to stabilize the affected part of the body and to prevent any further damage. Flexeril is FDA-approved to treat musculoskeletal conditions which incur oftentimes acute pain. There is a tolerance factor when it comes to taking this drug and total efficacy peaks at around 2 weeks. Beyond these 2 weeks, therapy with Flexeril isn’t advocated and this treatment is not meant to be long-term.
Flexeril comes as an extended release capsule to take by mouth and there’s also a tablet form of it which is taken 3 to 4 times a day.
Other Names for Flexeril
Cyclobenzaprine
Lawsuits & Legal Information for Flexeril
Author:
Lainee Hooks
Posted on Jun 2, 2012
