Cyclobenzaprine is a drug that is used as a muscle relaxer, taken by many people to help with physical ailments or conditions. The drug is taken to block nerve impulses and pain sensations that are sent to the brain. The goal is to treat physical pain and injury by blocking the way the brain reacts. When used normally, a patient can feel the ease of pain and be able to move about or function after an injury. However, Cyclobenzaprine is also often used by drug addicts to achieve a high feeling or recreationally by individuals who pair the drug with alcohol or other substances.

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Understanding the Drug

Cyclobenzaprine is only available via prescription and can be provided in Amrix or Flexeril form. It is relatively inexpensive and often prescribed to assist with musculoskeletal pain. The drug is effective in helping with such pain but must be taken with care as it can react with other medications a patient may be taking. It is important to make your physician aware of any medications you are taking to ensure you do not experience an adverse reaction.

In laymen’s terms, the drug will limit the pain and muscle spasms of the body and when combined with regular therapy, it will help an individual to complete rehab for muscle disorders. The drug is used to help maximize the speed and healing process during recovery. However, a physician may prescribe the drug for other uses, if they deem it to be helpful.

Uses of Cyclobenzaprine

The main use of Cyclobenzaprine is for muscular issues. The drug is often prescribed for muscle spasms, stiffness or help with pain. The drug is useful because it does not interfere with the function of muscles, so it can be used with physical therapy to help a patient overcome the issue they are having. Patients will feel less pain and be able to move during therapy when they wouldn’t be able to otherwise.

After an injury occurs, it is quite common for a patient to receive the drug to limit any further damage to the body in the affected area. When a musculoskeletal pain occurs due to an injury, the patient can be injured further due to straining based on the pain. With the medication, the patient does not strain their body to avoid pain, which helps in the healing process as other injuries are avoided. Cyclobenzaprine has also been found to help patients with fibromyalgia.

Cyclobenzaprine Recreational Use

The drug Cyclobenzaprine is not only used by patients who need it, but it is also abused by those who take the drug for recreational use. Cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxer, so it provides a sense of tranquility or relaxation. Individuals who use the drug recreationally will take it with alcohol or with other drugs to be able to feel the effects fully. Some people use the drug as a means for sleeping.

When taken at higher doses, such as 30 to 50 mg, individuals have said that they feel as if they are floating outside their own body. It seems that everyone is affected differently, so while some people might enjoy using the drug often recreationally, others may not like the feeling it brings at all.

Some find the drug just makes them feel heavy or limp, unable to move or do anything. This lackluster feeling is not the end result they were hoping for. Others love taking Cyclobenzaprine because it makes them feel relaxed and at ease. Some even tend to hallucinate when taking the medication. So, depending on what type of high an individual is seeking, the Cyclobenzaprine drug may or may not be the answer. Everyone reacts slightly different when taking this drug.

Side Effects

Taking Cyclobenzaprine can result in side effects, so it is important to get to know these effects to ensure nothing goes wrong when taking the drug. In general, a patient using Cyclobenzaprine will experience a drowsy feeling or dizziness, constipation, dry mouth or a feeling of tiredness. These symptoms are quite common. However, if they are persistent or become worse over time, a physician should be consulted. The type of side effects you feel may result in the physician changing out your medication to something else.

Serious side effects of taking this medication include having a fast or irregular heartbeat as well as mental changes or mood changes. If you begin to have hallucinations, difficulty urinating or feelings of confusion, a doctor should be contacted.

Serious allergic reactions can also occur when taking this medication. If a rash, itching or swelling, severe dizziness or trouble breathing occurs, medical attention needs to be administered immediately to avoid any further complications.

Drug Interactions

When being prescribed Cyclobenzaprine, you should tell your physician of any drugs that you are taking. This way, they can determine if there will be any interactions with them and if you are safe to continue taking all medication with Cyclobenzaprine. MAO inhibitor can have life-threatening effects when taking with Cyclobenzaprine. The drug can also enhance the effect of depressants as well as alcohol when taken together.

When taking tricyclic antidepressants, the risk of seizure can be enhanced when taking . It is essential that all drug interactions are noted so that patients are not at risk of additional health hazards when taking Cyclobenzaprine.

Dependence

With Cyclobenzaprine, the drug is often prescribed to work on a specific condition, such as muscle spasms. Over time, a patient may develop a tolerance to the drug which will require more doses to be taken or a higher dosage to be able to feel the effects. A dependence can develop in a drug when the brain becomes accustomed to the interaction of the Cyclobenzaprine. The brain begins to rely on the drug in order to function correctly.

A dependence of this drug will be recognized when withdrawal symptoms begin to occur as the drug leaves the bloodstream. This can include nausea, fatigue, malaise or a headache. When a dependence is discovered, the patient should seek medical treatment in order to fully remove the drug from their system and work on removing the dependence from the brain.

Addiction

Just as a dependence can occur, so can addiction. A patient can become addicted to Cyclobenzaprine based on how they feel after they have taken the drug. Once they feel a relaxed state, they may begin to crave this feeling. When a craving occurs, the patient may begin to take more of the drug, which can lead to overdose.

Because the drug is so readily available, it is often used recreationally, as we mentioned, with alcohol or other drugs. When this happens, addiction can occur which can lead to eventual overdose, as with the taking of any drug.

A drug overdose will occur in the body when a toxin is not able to be metabolized and removed. Functions of the body will be affected in a negative manner. With Cyclobenzaprine, a toxic overdose can occur when over 100 mg of the drug is taken with one dose.

There are several signs that one can look for when observing someone who takes Cyclobenzaprine on a regular basis to watch for a drug overdose. These symptoms include:

• Agitation

• Coma

• Confusion

• Drowsiness

• Dizziness

• High blood pressure

• Hallucinations

• Loss of muscle control

• Nausea

• Rapid heartbeat

• Slurred speech

• Vomiting

There are more serious side effects that can be a clear sign of overdose and must be treated immediately. If an individual begins to feel chest pains or a has seizures, treatment must be administered. The heart can stop beating and the patient goes into cardiac arrest or an irregular heart rate can occur. The individual may also suffer from neuroleptic malignant syndrome which results in fever, an altered mental state, and muscle rigidity.

An overdose can be further complicated when other substances are involved including other medications, alcohol or illicit drugs. It is important to recognize when a friend or family member is abusing Cyclobenzaprine, especially when combined with other substances.

Conclusion

If someone you know and love is struggling with Cyclobenzaprine usage, it is important to seek treatment. Without help, the abuse can continue to lead to an overdose which can result in major sickness or even death. There are treatment centers available to provide the help needed to break a Cyclobenzaprine addiction. Contacting such centers will provide more information on how treatment can begin and what to expect.