Can You Overdose on Flexeril? Side Effects & Symptoms
Cyclical antidepressants block the cardiac sodium channel and cause prolongation of cardiac depolarization, which manifests as QRS widening on electrocardiograms. There is also evidence that cyclical antidepressants may decrease the seizure threshold by interfering with chloride conductance on the GABA receptor. It is also possible for serious cyclobenzaprine side effects to occur, like seizures, heart arrhythmias, heart attack, or stroke. These are more likely to occur when a person has too much cyclobenzaprine in their system, for instance, if their prescription dose is too high or if they are misusing the drug. Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).
The elderly may also be more at risk for CNS adverse events such as hallucinations and confusion, cardiac events resulting in falls or other sequelae, drug-drug and drug-disease interactions. For these reasons, in the elderly, cyclobenzaprine should be used only if clearly needed. In such patients FLEXERIL should be initiated with a 5 mg dose and titrated slowly upward. These patients are generally more susceptible to drugs with potentially sedating effects, including cyclobenzaprine.
Even if it feels like the effects of cyclobenzaprine have worn off, the drug may not be completely eliminated from the body yet and could cause serious interactions with other substances. Clinicians should monitor for signs and symptoms of serotonin syndrome if the patient is taking other serotonergic drugs. In two case reports, the authors described patients who quickly developed serotonin syndrome after initiating cyclobenzaprine in the short term. In both cases, the patients took serotonergic medications (phenelzine and duloxetine) before starting cyclobenzaprine.[21]Clinicians should also monitor for vital signs, as cyclobenzaprine can cause reflex tachycardia.
Cyclobenzaprine side effects
Do not use it later for another condition unless your doctor directs you to do so. It is unknown if this medication passes into breast milk. Alcohol or marijuana (cannabis) can make you more dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive, use flexeril.live machinery, or do anything that needs alertness until you can do it safely. Talk to your doctor if you are using marijuana (cannabis). Avoid driving or hazardous activity until you know how this medicine will affect you.
- It may decrease the signals from your brain that tell your muscles to spasm.
- Formulations include immediate-release and extended-release.
- The extended-release formulation should be administered at the same time each day.
- Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals.
- Follow your doctor’s orders or the directions on the label.
Cyclobenzaprine oral tablet can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well. Although it is an unscheduled drug with a relatively low potential for abuse, people can develop compulsive patterns of use with cyclobenzaprine, which can lead to serious consequences.
What happens if I overdose on Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril)?
The peak concentration varies, depending on what formulation you take. For example, the peak concentration for the extended-release pills is around seven hours. Within the last five years, emergency room department visits related to muscle relaxant abuse almost doubled; they increased from 15,830 to 31,763 visits. Another telltale sign of Flexeril addiction is abusing the medication in combination with another substance to produce a greater sense of euphoria.
To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs you’re taking. To find out how this drug might interact with something else you’re taking, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. If these effects are mild, they may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks.
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Do not take this drug for more than 3 weeks without talking to your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Cyclobenzaprine’s plasma concentrations average 40% higher in the elderly, making these patients more at risk of the drug’s harmful effects. The drug is also eliminated more slowly in this age group. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse or NIDA, more than 50 million Americans aged 12 and over have reportedly misused a prescription drug at least once in their life. There were 25.2 million prescriptions wrote in 2011 that included cyclobenzaprine such as Flexeril. Cyclobenzaprine is available as immediate- and extended-release tablets and capsules.
Signs and symptoms of toxicity may develop rapidly after cyclobenzaprine overdose; therefore, hospital monitoring is required as soon as possible. The acute oral LD50 of FLEXERIL is approximately 338 and 425 mg/kg in mice and rats, respectively. Other drugs may interact with cyclobenzaprine, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. In case of acute cyclobenzaprine overdose, emergency medicine physicians and triage nurses should stabilize the patient. If EKG demonstrates QRS prolongation, the clinician should initiate sodium bicarbonate therapy. In severe overdose, ventricular arrhythmias and seizures may require MICU-level of care under the supervision of a critical care physician.
