Eight double-blind controlled clinical studies were performed in 642 patients comparing cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride 10 mg, diazepam, and placebo. Muscle spasm, local pain and tenderness, limitation of motion, and restriction in activities of daily living were evaluated. In three of these studies there was a significantly greater improvement with cyclobenzaprine than with diazepam, while in the other studies the improvement following both treatments was comparable.
If you suspect someone has taken an excess of cyclobenzaprine, seek emergency medical assistance immediately. Drowsiness and a rapid heartbeat are among the most common symptoms of an overdose. People may accidentally mix Flexeril with other substances while taking the drug as directed. In addition, some people combine Flexeril with other substances to enhance the outcomes of both substances. The combination of Flexeril and alcohol can be hazardous or even deadly. Alcohol and Flexeril both suppress the central nervous system, and mixing them can enhance one another’s outcomes.
Treatment options
In this article, we’ll explore how cyclobenzaprine and alcohol interact to help you take the necessary precautions when taking the drug. If you’ve already mixed muscle relaxants and alcohol, stop drinking immediately. To err on the side of caution, it’s best to see healthcare professional as soon as possible, especially if you’ve had more than one drink or don’t drink often. Combining cyclobenzaprine with alcohol can increase the risk of drowsiness, dizziness, impaired coordination, and other central nervous system depressant effects. Chemical dependence occurs when you stop taking the drug and/or alcohol abruptly and experience withdrawal symptoms. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) notes that dependence can happen with chronic use of any drug, even when they are taken as prescribed.
Can I drink alcohol the day after taking cyclobenzaprine?
This can result in severe sedation or drowsiness, increasing the chance of an accident. For now, it’s best to stick with currently recommended first-line treatments, such as benzodiazepines, when dealing with alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Using baclofen to manage symptoms, especially without doctor supervision, can have dangerous consequences. Additionally, both alcohol and muscle relaxers are potentially addictive substances.
Liver Trouble
Skeletal muscle relaxants (see Table 1) work primarily in the spinal cord and brain, also called the central nervous system, to block pain sensations between the nerves and the brain. They relieve painful muscle spasms and spasticity due to conditions like acute back pain or multiple sclerosis. Alcohol should be avoided if you are under treatment with a centrally-acting muscle relaxant (like cyclobenzaprine, baclofen, methocarbamol or tizanidine). When muscle relaxants are combined with alcohol (ethanol), side effects such as drowsiness, confusion, dizziness, and errors in judgement can occur. Driving or other hazardous activities may be more dangerous and should be avoided.
- Studies show that mixing alcohol and medications that are processed by the liver leads to a less-than-favorable metabolic fallout.
- If there is a concern about the health of your liver, your healthcare provider may do tests to determine if it is working well enough to take this medicine.
- The attentive medical and addiction treatment teams will assist you through this physically and mentally demanding period.
- Combining cyclobenzaprine with alcohol can increase the risk of drowsiness, dizziness, impaired coordination, and other central nervous system depressant effects.
Table 1. Common Muscle Relaxants
Both substances have depressant effects on the central nervous system, which can lead to decreased heart rate, respiratory depression, and impairment of cognitive functions. Flexeril is a commonly prescribed drug in the management of acute musculoskeletal spastic disorders. It is ideally taken in the dose of 5 mg or 10 mg (depending upon the clinical condition) along with water.
If you accidentally consumed alcohol after taking cyclobenzaprine, monitor yourself for any unusual symptoms such as increased drowsiness or dizziness and contact your healthcare provider if needed. It is best to avoid alcohol altogether while taking cyclobenzaprine to prevent any potential interactions or adverse effects. It is not recommended to drink alcohol while taking cyclobenzaprine as it can increase the risk of side effects and impair your ability to function normally. While it is possible to become addicted to cyclobenzaprine, addiction is more likely when the drug is abused with alcohol.
When Can You Drink Alcohol After Taking Flexeril?
If you begin to experience shallowed breathing, an irregular heart rate, dizziness, or partial unconsciousness, you may be experiencing an overdose. Call 911 or arrange to go to the emergency room right away. 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. To reduce these risks, avoid drinking alcohol while you’re being treated with cyclobenzaprine.
Dependence does not necessarily mean you are addicted to cyclobenzaprine and/or alcohol. However, the more these two substances are abused, the more likely you will become addicted to them. Abrupt cessation of treatment after prolonged administration rarely may produce nausea, headache, and malaise.
Mixing muscle relaxers and alcohol can make the effects of muscle relaxers more intense — and not in a good way. If you’re taking a muscle relaxer, you should avoid consuming alcohol. Read on to learn more about muscle relaxers and why they don’t mix with alcohol. As we know, alcohol can be notoriously addictive since it affects the brain’s levels of dopamine, a “reward” neurotransmitter involved in pleasure-seeking behavior. Dopamine gets released through activities that make us feel good (delicious food, good company, a date that ends well — you get the picture). Alcohol’s effect on the heart could also put us at risk if we’re taking cyclobenzaprine.
Now, drinking while on cyclobenzaprine is discouraged, but not contraindicated. If you do decide to drink, remember that alcohol and cyclobenzaprine have a similar effect on your central nervous system. cyclobenzaprine 10 mg alcohol Since you might still have cyclobenzaprine in your system, you will feel the effects of the alcohol after a fewer number of drinks and more intensely than drinking with no cyclobenzaprine in your system. Inpatient treatment is your best choice if you have other medical conditions that need to be treated, lack a healthy and strong home environment, or need a highly-structured and intensive program. Alcohol and cyclobenzaprine can be addictive if they are misused or abused and increase the risk of addiction.
Specifically, we end up with elevated levels of certain enzymes. Higher fat deposits and overall stress that can eventually result in liver disease and other complications. One of the main reasons it’s best to avoid the combo has to do with some gnarly side effects we can end up with as a result. According to NIH, cyclobenzaprine comes with some fairly typical ones, as well as potentially dangerous ones.
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. In order to protect against the rare but potentially critical manifestations described above, obtain an ECG and immediately initiate cardiac monitoring.
If you have any doubts about whether something will interact with muscle relaxers, talk to your prescriber or pharmacist. It’s believed that baclofen works by mimicking the effects of alcohol on a specific type of receptor in the brain. But so far, evidence supporting the use of baclofen for alcohol withdrawal is limited. Muscle relaxers and alcohol both depress your central nervous system. They work to slow brain activity, which can slow functions down your breathing and heart rate as well.
Before taking cyclobenzaprine, tell your healthcare provider about any prescription or over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, vitamins/minerals, herbal products, and other supplements you are using. While less common, the most serious side effects of cyclobenzaprine are described below, along with what to do if they happen. A more recent review noted that baclofen is not recommended as a first-line treatment for alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Alcohol withdrawal is a condition that occurs when a person who’s been drinking heavily or for a prolonged period stops drinking alcohol. It is best to wait at least 24 hours after taking cyclobenzaprine before consuming alcohol, regardless of the type of alcoholic beverage.
- If you’ve already mixed muscle relaxants and alcohol, stop drinking immediately.
- Cyclobenzaprine is a medication that relaxes your muscles, which reduces muscle stiffness.
- Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of cyclobenzaprine such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating.
- Skeletal muscle relaxants (see Table 1) work primarily in the spinal cord and brain, also called the central nervous system, to block pain sensations between the nerves and the brain.
- The information on this website is not intended for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
The interaction between the two substances can exacerbate the sedative effects of both, potentially leading to dangerous levels of sedation and impaired motor skills. This can increase the risk of accidents, injuries, and other harmful consequences, especially if operating machinery or driving. Cyclobenzaprine, a muscle relaxant, blocks nerve impulses sent to the brain. Doctors use it with rest and physical therapy to treat skeletal muscle pain or injury. Doctors often use it with rest and physical therapy to treat skeletal muscle conditions like pain or injury.. Although rare, deaths may occur from overdosage with cyclobenzaprine.
It is still recommended to wait at least 24 hours after taking cyclobenzaprine before consuming alcohol, even if it is before bed. Since it does last a while in your system, I would recommend waiting about 24 hours after your last dose of cyclobenzaprine before you have a drink. At the very least, you should wait around 8 hours after taking a dose as that is the timeframe where the drug has the most effect. Now, the half-life is It’s dependent on several factors such as your genetics, age, and liver function. The elderly and folks with impaired liver function tend to metabolize it slower. If we assume that you metabolize cyclobenzaprine quickly, even 24 hours after a single 10mg dose, at least 1.25mg of cyclobenzaprine would still be in your system.
