Cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxant used to reduce muscle hyperactivity and spasms. How can we stay safe when it comes to alcohol and cyclobenzaprine? Muscle relaxers affect our cognition a bit differently but can play a role in this process. By affecting our nervous system, they lower our “cognitive defenses,” making it more likely we’ll jump into certain situations or make decisions without thinking.
Can I resume drinking alcohol once I have finished my cyclobenzaprine prescription?
While it is possible to become addicted to cyclobenzaprine, addiction is more likely when the drug is abused with alcohol. Addiction, also called a substance use disorder, is defined as a chronic, relapsing disease of the brain. When cyclobenzaprine and alcohol are abused together, it is called polydrug use. For individuals with a history of alcohol dependence, the addition of cyclobenzaprine can complicate the withdrawal process.
Flexeril (Cyclobenzaprine) And Alcohol
It is used to treat muscle spasms resulting from certain musculoskeletal injuries, usually ones that occur suddenly. This drug is frequently prescribed in combination with physical therapy and rest for muscle spasms. You may find this muscle-relaxing drug in medications such as Flexeril, Fexmid, and Amrix.
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- During your detoxification, you may be provided with other drugs to alleviate withdrawal symptoms as well as fluids to maintain you hydrated.
- Our inhibitions might be lower, and we might end up drinking more as a result, paving the way for potential problems in the future.
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Why Cyclobenzaprine and Alcohol Don’t Mix
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The overall effectiveness of cyclobenzaprine was similar to that observed in the double-blind controlled studies; the overall incidence of adverse effects was less ( see ADVERSE REACTIONS). Mixing cyclobenzaprine and alcohol is very dangerous as it can cause life-threatening side effects. If you accidentally ingest both substances within the same window of time, pay attention to how you are feeling. If you begin to experience shallowed breathing, an irregular heart rate, dizziness, or partial unconsciousness, you may be experiencing an overdose. Combining cyclobenzaprine and alcohol can cause many adverse side effects, including fatal overdose. Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) accounted for 11,000 of the 52,000 emergency room admissions involving muscle relaxants in 2011, and 18% of those who came in were taking the drug with alcohol.
What are the Risks of Alcohol and Cyclobenzaprine Interaction?
When cyclobenzaprine is used with alcohol, it is referred to as polydrug use. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), cyclobenzaprine has some potential for recreational abuse as a non-controlled substance. It may be used to produce relaxation and euphoria, and it may be blended with other substances to produce stronger mind-altering effects.
It can jolt you out of sleep or strike during the day, as you go about your business and are suddenly stopped in your tracks by what feels like a pair of tyrannosaurus jaws chomping into your muscles. Those moments can fill you with panic as you try to remember the tricks you’ve heard from your grandmother or read about online. It is still recommended to wait at least 24 hours after taking cyclobenzaprine before consuming alcohol, even if it is the day after. It is still recommended to wait at least 24 hours after taking cyclobenzaprine before consuming alcohol, even if it was earlier in the day. If you must have an alcoholic beverage, it is best to wait 24 hours or longer after taking your last dose of the muscle relaxer to avoid any potentially harmful effects.
- Combining cyclobenzaprine with alcohol can increase the risk of drowsiness, dizziness, impaired coordination, and other central nervous system depressant effects.
- Treatment for individuals who have mixed often involves a comprehensive approach that addresses both substances use and the underlying reasons for misuse.
- Animal studies indicate that cyclobenzaprine does not act at the neuromuscular junction or directly on skeletal muscle.
- Do not drive or do other activities that require alertness or coordination until you know how cyclobenzaprine affects you.
Find out about the hazards of mixing alcohol and (Cyclobenzaprine) Flexeril, a CNS depressant that causes drowsiness, dizziness, and other problems. According to NIH, cyclobenzaprine, a muscle relaxant, is prescribed to help relieve pain from muscle spasms caused by different musculoskeletal conditions. This combination can significantly impair your ability to perform potentially dangerous activities that require sharp focus, like operating machinery or driving. Additionally, because of alcohol’s potential for abuse, taking cyclobenzaprine concurrently with alcohol over an extended period increases the risk of addiction.
Do not drive or do other activities that require alertness or coordination until you know how cyclobenzaprine affects you. Do not share cyclobenzaprine with other people, even if they have the same condition as you. Reframe supports you in reducing alcohol consumption and enhancing your well-being.
If our sleep doctor concludes that Kick’s sleep program isn’t the ideal match for your needs, you won’t be charged for the initial consultation. Imagine lying in bed and staring at the ceiling, your mind racing with the events of the day and your muscles tensed up in discomfort. This nightly struggle with persistent insomnia can leave you exhausted and frustrated.
Cyclobenzaprine does not directly affect alcohol metabolism, but it can enhance the sedating effects of alcohol, making you more prone to its adverse effects. If you are taking another medication that also causes drowsiness, you may have more side effects. Call emergency for help if you have problems breathing or unusual sleepiness.
Alcohol’s effect on the heart could also put us at risk if we’re taking cyclobenzaprine. Booze is notorious for messing with our blood pressure, decreasing it at first through vasodilation (the widening of blood vessels) before leading to a rebound effect. It also causes potentially dangerous arrhythmias and increases our heart rate. Over time, these disruptions could even lead to cardiomyopathy — a serious form of heart disease. (For more information take a look at “How Does Alcohol Affect the Heart?”). It is still recommended to wait at least 24 hours after taking cyclobenzaprine before consuming alcohol, even if it is before bed.
The full list of options for muscle ailments is much longer, but these are the highlights. There are many individual factors that come into play when choosing the right option, and our physician can give us the best idea of which course of treatment is right for us.
More about Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine)
Hyperpyretic crisis seizures and deaths have occurred in patients receiving cyclobenzaprine (or structurally similar tricyclic antidepressants) concomitantly with MAO inhibitor drugs. In light of these findings, therapy with cyclobenzaprine in the elderly should be initiated with a 5 mg dose and titrated slowly upward. Rest and physical therapy are also important in the overall treatment plan for muscle spasm treatment. Cyclobenzaprine can become habit-forming if not taken as directed, but when it is combined with alcohol, addiction is more likely. Addiction, a chronic, relapsing brain disease, is referred to as substance addiction.
In patients with CNS depression, early intubation is advised because of the potential for abrupt deterioration. Seizures should be controlled with benzodiazepines or, if these are ineffective, other anticonvulsants (e.g., phenobarbital, phenytoin). Physostigmine is not recommended except to treat life-threatening symptoms that have been unresponsive to other therapies, and then only in close consultation with a poison control center. Concomitant use of monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors or within 14 days after their discontinuation.