Cyclobenzaprine (By mouth)
sye-kloe-BEN-za-preen
Treats pain and stiffness caused by muscle spasms.
Drug classes
Skeletal Muscle Relaxant, Centrally Acting (About this – PubMed Health)
Uses
Uses of This Medicine
Cyclobenzaprine is used to help relax certain muscles in your body. It helps relieve the pain, stiffness, and discomfort caused by strains, sprains, or injuries to your muscles. However, this medicine does not take the place of rest, exercise or physical therapy, or other treatment that your doctor may recommend for your medical problem. Cyclobenzaprine acts on the central nervous system (CNS) to produce its muscle relaxant effects. Its actions on the CNS may also cause some of this medicine’s side effects.
Cyclobenzaprine may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.
Cyclobenzaprine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.
Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although this use is not included in product labeling, cyclobenzaprine is used in certain patients with fibromyalgia syndrome (also called fibrositis or fibrositis syndrome).
Other uses (PubMed Health)
How To Use
Long Acting Capsule, Liquid, Tablet
Your doctor will tell you how much medicine to use. Do not use more than directed.
Swallow the extended-release capsule whole. Do not crush, break, or chew it.
Take this medicine at the same time each day.
This medicine is not for long-term use.
Missed dose: Take a dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then and take a regular dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up for a missed dose.
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light.
Drugs and Foods to Avoid
Ask your doctor or pharmacist before using any other medicine, including over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products.
Do not use this medicine if you have used an MAO inhibitor (MAOI) within the past 14 days.
Some medicines can affect how this medicine works. Tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following:
Bupropion Depression medicine Guanethidine Meperidine, tramadol VerapamilTell your doctor if you use anything else that makes you sleepy. Some examples are allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, and alcohol.
When Not To Use
This medicine is not right for everyone. Do not use it if you had an allergic reaction to cyclobenzaprine, or if you have an overactive thyroid, heart rhythm problems, heart failure, or you had a recent heart attack.
Warnings
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have liver problems, or a history of glaucoma or problems with urination.
This medicine may cause a serious condition called serotonin syndrome, when taken with certain medicines. Ask your doctor for more information on serotonin syndrome.
This medicine may make you dizzy or drowsy. Do not drive or doing anything that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you.
Call your doctor if your symptoms do not improve or if they get worse.
Keep all medicine out of the reach of children. Never share your medicine with anyone.
Possible side effects
Summary More details
Call your doctor right away if you notice any of these side effects:
Allergic reaction: Itching or hives, swelling in your face or hands, swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat, chest tightness, trouble breathing
Anxiety, restlessness, fever, sweating, twitching, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, seeing or hearing things that are not there
Fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat
Severe drowsiness, fainting, or confusion
Trouble urinating
If you notice these less serious side effects, talk with your doctor:
Headache or dizziness
If you notice other side effects that you think are caused by this medicine, tell your doctor.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
More side effects of this drug
Brand names include
Amrix, Cyclobenzaprine Comfort Pac, CyclobenzaprinePax, Fexmid, FlexePax, Flexeril, FusePaq Tabradol, Therabenzaprine-60, Therabenzaprine-90, Therabenzaprine-90-5
There may be other brand names for this medicine.