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What is Flexeril
 Flexeril
is a muscle relaxant. It works by blocking nerve impulses
(or pain sensations) that are sent to your brain.
Flexeril
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).
Flexeril
may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this
medication guide.
General medical information about Flexeril
Do not stop taking Flexeril 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 Flexeril.
Who should not take Flexeril
Do not take Flexeril 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.
Flexeril
is in the FDA pregnancy B. This means that it is unlikely
to harm an unborn baby. Do not take Flexeril without first
talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
It is
not known whether Flexeril passes into breast milk. Do not
take Flexeril without first talking to your doctor if you
are breast-feeding a baby.
How should take Flexeril Take Flexeril 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.
Flexeril 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
Flexeril suddenly if you have been taking it regularly for
more than 1 week. Stopping suddenly may cause nausea, headache,
and general discomfort.
Store Flexeril 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 Flexeril overdose include drowsiness, seizures, irregular
heartbeats, hallucinations, and difficulty breathing.
Avoid while taking Flexeril Use caution when driving, operating machinery, or
performing other hazardous activities. Flexeril 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 Flexeril.
Possible side effects of Flexeril If you experience any of the following serious side
effects, stop taking Flexeril 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 Flexeril
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 Flexeril Do not take Flexeril 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 Flexeril:
- 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 Flexeril.
Use these drugs under the supervision of your doctor.
Drugs
other than those listed here may also interact with Flexeril.
Talk to your doctor and pharmacist before taking any prescription
or over-the-counter medicines. |
