Flexeril Side Effects, Uses, Dosage, Overdose, Pregnancy, Alcohol

Also, share about all the medications that you take before starting cyclobenzaprine to avoid potential drug interactions. They can occur for several reasons, such as sprains or strains, that may occur due to repetitive movements and prolonged baby holding for nursing. If you are a nursing mother, it may help you to know about the potential side effects of a drug like cyclobenzaprine (3).

Small doses of Flexeril for a short time may be more beneficial than harmful in some cases. A medical professional can help you decide what is right for your situation. It is not quite understood how the drug works or what harm it may cause to an unborn baby. Flexeril is only recommended to be taken for a short period of time — no more than two to three weeks. The guide reports that it is unclear whether or not it is safe to use during pregnancy. Even though animal trials indicate it most likely is safe, it is still best to exercise caution and only take Flexeril while pregnant if you absolutely have to.

During the test, the animals were given 20 times more than the required dose. In spite of this, no severe effects were seen on the pregnant animals. Category B medicines are medicines that are studied on animals and show no adverse effects. During pregnancy, the lady faces discomfort from muscle-related issues.

It is important to know how one might react to this medicine before driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if one is dizzy or not alert and able to see well. This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. It’s important to note that this list is not comprehensive, and any medication use during pregnancy should be discussed with a healthcare provider. Cyclobenzaprine relieves muscle spasms when the spasm is due to local problems, that is, in the muscle itself and not in the nerves controlling the muscles. Cyclobenzaprine seems to accomplish its beneficial effect through a complex mechanism within the nervous system, probably in the brainstem. Check the labels on all your medicines (such as allergy or cough-and-cold products) because they may contain ingredients that cause drowsiness.

Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) is commonly used to relieve muscle sprain, and healthcare providers prescribe this drug for short-term usage. However, if you are a lactating woman, you might be concerned about the safety of taking Flexeril when breastfeeding. While Flexeril is an effective muscle relaxant, there are alternative methods to manage muscle pain during pregnancy.

Overall rating for Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)

However, there is limited data on the safety of Flexeril during pregnancy in human studies. Category B drugs such as cyclobenzaprine are prescribed during a pregnancy only when the physician has determined and is sure that the risks are less than the benefits of the drug’s actions. Pregnant women, and people with a history of depression or substance abuse problems should not take muscle relaxants. Patients with low back pain or fibromyalgia may benefit from treatment with cyclobenzaprine. Higher doses of cyclobenzaprine or tizanidine would be appropriate to promote sedation in cases of more severe discomfort or perceived muscular spasm.

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Cyclobenzaprine is a centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxant that is closely related to the tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., imipramine). The agent is not teratogenic or embryotoxic in mice, rats, and rabbits given doses up to 20 can you take flexeril with alcohol times the human dose (1). No published reports of its use in human pregnancy have been located. Studies in animals have failed to demonstrate a risk to the unborn baby and there are no well-controlled studies in pregnant women.

Risks Associated with Taking Muscle Relaxers during Pregnancy

Data are conflicting but generally support the safety of NSAIDs in the first two trimesters; (Daniel 2014, Damase-Michel 2014) however recommendations and practice patterns are varied. We do not endorse the practice of routine pregnancy testing in women of childbearing age not known to be pregnant prior to the administration of NSAIDs. Muscle relaxants like cyclobenzaprine, are not recommended for people 65 years or older and there are two reasons for this. If you are suffering from muscle pain during pregnancy, you might be wondering what your options are besides taking muscle relaxers. While muscle relaxers are known to be effective, there are some concerns about their safety during pregnancy. Fortunately, there are several alternatives that you could consider to ease your pain and discomfort.

However, cyclobenzaprine is not to be used as a treatment for muscle spasm secondary to cerebral or spinal cord diseases.
It is not quite understood how the drug works or what harm it may cause to an unborn baby.
In conclusion, it is important for pregnant women to be cautious about taking muscle relaxers due to the potential harm to the developing fetus.
Usually, the dosage is given in 5 mg doses three times per day or in 15 mg doses once or twice a day for the extended-release formulation.
Your doctor can evaluate your condition and recommend safe alternatives to muscle relaxers if necessary.

It is not known ifFlexeril is excreted in human breast milk or if it will harm your nursing baby. Common side effects that could occur when you take Cyclobenzaprine are dizziness and drowsiness. I pulled a muscle in my low back on Thursday and am still in pretty intense pain. I have not gone to the doctor, mostly because what exactly can they do for me while pregnant? I assume I cannot take most painkillers or muscle relaxers – although this is a assumption, I have not actually researched it.

Infographic: How To Handle The Side Effects Of Cyclobenzaprine And Alternative Therapies To Try

For these reasons it is important for providers to employ safe and rational opioid prescribing practices when treating pregnant and postpartum patients. Opioid analgesics can be used for similar indications as in the non-pregnant patient, primarily for the treatment of moderate to severe pain when non-opioid therapies fail or are contraindicated. (Committee 2017) If an opioid analgesic is indicated, codeine should be avoided due to its link to cardiac and respiratory malformations. (Shaw 1992) Like prescribing in the non-pregnant patient, pregnant patients should have a risk assessment for prenatal substance abuse performed. An example of a tool for risk assessment for prenatal abuse is presented in Table 4, but all such tools have significant limitations, and clinical judgment should prevail.