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What is cyclobenzaprine
 Cyclobenzaprine
is a muscle relaxant. It works by blocking nerve impulses
(or pain sensations) that are sent to your brain.
Cyclobenzaprine
is used to relieve pain, tenderness, and limitation of motion
caused by muscle spasms. It is used, along with rest and physical
therapy, for short-term treatment (i.e., 2 to 3 weeks).
Cyclobenzaprine
may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this
medication guide.
General medical information about cyclobenzaprine
Do not stop taking cyclobenzaprine suddenly if you
have been taking it regularly for more than 1 week. This
may cause nausea, headache and general discomfort.
Use alcohol cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness
and dizziness while you are taking cyclobenzaprine.
Who should not take cyclobenzaprine
Do not take cyclobenzaprine if you
- have
recently (within the last 6 weeks) had a heart attack,
-
have irregular heartbeats,
- have a heart block,
- have heart conduction disturbance,
- have
congestive heart failure, or
- have hyperthyroidism
that is not under control.
Before taking this medication,
tell your doctor if you have:
- urinary retention
or
- narrow-angle glaucoma or increased intraocular
pressure (pressure inside the eye).
You may need
a lower dose or special monitoring during treatment if you
have any of the conditions listed above.
Cyclobenzaprine
is in the FDA pregnancy B. This means that it is unlikely
to harm an unborn baby. Do not take cyclobenzaprine without
first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
It is not known whether cyclobenzaprine passes into breast
milk. Do not take cyclobenzaprine without first talking
to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should take cyclobenzaprine Take cyclobenzaprine exactly as directed by your
doctor. If you do not understand these instructions, ask
your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor to explain them to you.
Take each dose with a full glass of water.
Cyclobenzaprine is usually taken several times a day. Follow
your doctor's instructions.
You should begin to notice
relief from your symptoms after 1 to 2 days of treatment.
Do not stop taking cyclobenzaprine suddenly if you
have been taking it regularly for more than 1 week. Stopping
suddenly may cause nausea, headache, and general discomfort.
Store cyclobenzaprine at room temperature away from
moisture and heat.
If you miss a dose: Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However,
if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you
missed and take your next regularly scheduled dose. Do not
take a double dose of this medication.
What happens if you overdose: Seek emergency medical attention.
Symptoms
of a cyclobenzaprine overdose include drowsiness, seizures,
irregular heartbeats, hallucinations, and difficulty breathing.
Avoid while taking cyclobenzaprine Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or
performing other hazardous activities. Cyclobenzaprine may
cause dizziness or drowsiness. If you experience dizziness
or drowsiness, avoid these activities.
Use alcohol
cautiously. Alcohol may increase drowsiness and dizziness
while you are taking cyclobenzaprine.
Possible side effects of cyclobenzaprine If you experience any of the following serious side
effects, stop taking cyclobenzaprine and seek emergency
medical attention:
- an allergic reaction (difficulty
breathing; closing of your throat; swelling of your lips,
tongue, or face; or hives);
- seizures, hallucinations,
or confusion;
- blurred vision;
- increased
heart rate; or
- depression.
Other, less serious
side effects may be more likely to occur. Continue to take
cyclobenzaprine and talk to your doctor if you experience
- drowsiness or dizziness;
- dry mouth or
a bad taste in your mouth;
- insomnia;
- difficulty
urinating; or
- sweating.
If you stop taking
this medication suddenly, you may experience some withdrawal
effects.
Side effects other than those listed here
may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect
that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.
What other drugs will affect cyclobenzaprine Do not take cyclobenzaprine if you have taken a monoamine
oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) such as isocarboxazid (Marplan),
phenelzine (Nardil), or tranylcypromine (Parnate) in the
last 14 days. Dangerous side effects could result.
Many drugs can increase drowsiness associated with cyclobenzaprine:
- antihistamines such as brompheniramine (Dimetane,
Bromfed, others), chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton, Teldrin,
others), azatadine (Optimine), clemastine (Tavist), and
many others;
- narcotics (pain killers) such as meperidine
(Demerol), morphine (MS Contin, MSIR, others), propoxyphene
(Darvon, Darvocet), hydrocodone (Lorcet, Vicodin), oxycodone
(Percocet, Percodan), fentanyl (Duragesic), and codeine
(Fiorinal, Fioricet, Tylenol #3, others);
- sedatives
such as phenobarbital (Solfoton, Luminal), amobarbital (Amytal),
and secobarbital (Seconal);
- phenothiazines such
as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin),
mesoridazine (Serentil), perphenazine (Trilafon), prochlorperazine
(Compazine), thioridazine (Mellaril), and trifluoperazine
(Stelazine); or
- antidepressants such as doxepin
(Sinequan), imipramine (Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor),
fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft),
phenelzine (Nardil), and tranylcypromine (Parnate).
Do not take any of the drugs listed above without the approval
of your doctor.
The stomach medicine cimetidine (Tagamet,
Tagamet HB) and pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen
(Motrin, Advil), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen (Orudis,
Orudis KT, Oruvail), fenoprofen (Nalfon), flurbiprofen (Ansaid),
naproxen (Aleve, Anaprox, Naprosyn), and nabumetone (Relafen)
may all increase the pain-relieving effects of cyclobenzaprine.
Use these drugs under the supervision of your doctor.
Drugs
other than those listed here may also interact with cyclobenzaprine.
Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription
or over-the-counter medicines. |
