Is Flexeril® A Controlled Substance and What That Means For Patients

Is Flexeril® A Controlled Substance and What That Means For Patients

Flexeril® is a common and important medication for a lot of people. It can make a huge difference in the treatment plan for different disorders, and can be an important part of helping people live a normal life. 

However, like many medications, using Flexeril® can come with some serious downsides and important side effects. It’s important to understand the risks that come with using this medication before you take it. 

Unfortunately, the risks that come with Flexeril® can also make it harder for the people who need this medication to access it, and there can be other challenges and hurdles for people who need Flexeril® long term, in addition to the added risks of long-term use. 

Here’s what you need to know, whether you’re a patient yourself, are helping support someone who has been prescribed Flexeril®®, or are worried about someone in your life that started taking the medication recently. 

What Is Flexeril® And What Does It Do? 

The very first thing you need to know about this medication is what it is, what it’s used for, and how it works in your body. 

First and foremost, Flexeril® is a muscle relaxer. 

Flexeril® is also actually a discontinued drug, it’s the brand name of the drug cyclobenzaprine, and since the generic is widely available, the brand name version is no longer being made. That said, many patients and doctors still use the name Flexeril® because it’s easier to say and easier to remember than cyclobenzaprine. 

We’ll continue using Flexeril® for this article. 

Flexeril®® is generally used for severe muscle spasms and may also be used to help ease discomfort from a wide range of muscle injuries. It can also be used in the case of a more acute injury, like a tendon or ligament sprain and certain kinds of muscle strains. 

There is also an extended-release version of this drug called Amrix. Functionally, Amrix and Flexeril® do the same thing. The main difference is that you will only need to take Amrix once per day, while most people need to take multiple Flexeril®® doses to get adequate coverage over the day. 

Flexeril®® is not a painkiller, but it can be used to relieve the pain of muscle injuries and problems. 

Side Effects Of Flexeril®

Like all medications, Flexeril® can have a wide variety of side effects. Used properly you might have little or no side effects from the medication. However, people who take more Flexeril® than they need, or who take the drug recreationally, may have more severe versions of the side effects. 

It is also possible to overdose on Flexeril®, and it’s important to get immediate medical attention if you or someone you know accidentally overdoses on the drug. 

• Blurred vision.
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Lightheadedness
• Dry mouth
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Agitation
• Nervousness
• Headache
• Muscle twitching
• Gas
• Unusual muscle weakness
• Unusual tiredness
• Depression
• Unusual dreams
• Signs of allergic reactions (rare, serious) 
• Fainting (rare, serious) 
• Convulsions or seizures (very rare, sign of overdose) 
• Dry, hot skin (sign of overdose) 
• Difficulty breathing (sign of overdose)
• Vomiting (may be a sign of overdose with other symptoms) 

These aren’t all of the possible side effects from taking Flexeril® but should give you a good idea of the most common or possible side effects from this drug. Consult the pharmacy handout you received with the medication for more information. 

Is Flexeril® A Narcotic? 

No. Flexeril® is not a narcotic medication, though some people do think that it is one. That’s because some of the side effects of Flexeril® may feel like a narcotic, and that Flexeril® is sometimes prescribed in combination with opioid pain medications or other strong painkillers. 

That’s because the conditions that Flexeril® treats can sometimes cause extreme pain, and that sometimes people in extreme pain need help relaxing their muscles to avoid causing additional harm. 

That said, the way Flexeril® works is entirely different from the way narcotic medications work, and Flexeril® should not be considered a narcotic. 

Is Flexeril® A Controlled Substance? 

Not currently. Flexeril® can be a drug of misuse, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it needs to be as tightly controlled as other drugs. 

Right now, Flexeril® is not on the DEA list of controlled substances, which is important because it gives doctors a little more flexibility to prescribe the drug for people who need it, and also means that patients can access a larger supply of the drug if they need it. 

That said, many doctors are still careful about prescribing Flexeril® because it is known to be habit-forming and can be addictive in some situations. 

What Do Flexeril® Control Limitations Mean For Patients? 

Since there aren’t limitations on Flexeril® right now, patients generally don’t have a hard time getting this drug as long as they have a legitimate reason to need it. Doctors can also prescribe a larger amount of the drug if needed, or in cases where the patient has a history of recurrent muscle spasms. 

However, if more people start to misuse Flexeril®, or we see an upswing in the number of patients becoming addicted to the drug, its status might change and it might get added to the controlled substances list. 

That makes it doubly important for patients to be responsible with their Flexeril®, to only use the drug when they need it, and to use Flexeril® only as prescribed. That will help keep addiction rates low and will make it less likely for the DEA to reevaluate or reclassify Flexeril®. 

Taking Flexeril® only as prescribed can also keep you much safer and healthier. Win-win! 

Can You Get Addicted To Flexeril®? 

Yes. 

Sadly, Flexeril®, like many medications, can be habit forming, especially for people with a history of substance abuse problems or addictions. 

The good news is that Flexeril® is less addictive than some other medications, like opioid painkillers, and that makes it safer for more people to use when they need it. Flexeril® may also be considered in situations where an opioid painkiller would otherwise be necessary, but where Flexeril® or a similar medication might lower pain levels to something more manageable with other medications. 

At the same time, it’s incredibly important to stop taking Flexeril® when you no longer need it. The drug is known to cause a range of feel-good side effects, or even just to help with sleep in a way that can be addictive when it’s used improperly. 

So, while addiction is rare, it’s still incredibly important to make sure you’re monitoring yourself or your loved ones for signs of addiction so you can intervene in possible addiction as soon as possible. 

Signs Of Flexeril® Addiction

Like most drugs that can cause an addiction, the signs of Flexeril® addiction are highly variable and depend on the person taking the drug. Some people may have very little outward sign that they are starting to develop an addiction, at least until they are unable to get the drug they are addicted to, while other people may have some of the signs and symptoms of addiction as a natural consequence of the condition they are treating with Flexeril®. 

For instance, feeling like you need Flexeril® while you are dealing with a muscle injury is entirely different from feeling like you need Flexeril® when you are completely healthy. 

Here are some of the common signs and symptoms of Flexeril® addiction. If these sound familiar you to you, it might be time to get help overcoming your addiction. Remember, you don’t have to tackle this alone. 

• You crave Flexeril® even when you physically feel fine
• You have taken or want to take more Flexeril® than you need for symptom relief
• You have or have considered going to more than one doctor to get more Flexeril®.
• You feel like you need to take more Flexeril® than you used to to get the same effect.
• You don’t feel like yourself unless you’re taking Flexeril®
• You can’t sleep without taking Flexeril® 
• You want to take Flexeril® in inappropriate settings, like work or school, when you don’t need the medication for symptoms
• You have a hard time stopping taking Flexeril® 
• You feel sick when you haven’t taken Flexeril® 
• You have or have considered buying Flexeril® from an illegal source

These are only some of the most common signs of Flexeril® addiction, there are plenty of others. Including, if you feel like you’ve developed a Flexeril® addiction, it’s relatively likely that you have. 

The good news is that there are plenty of trained medical care professionals that can help you overcome your addiction. 

How To Get Help

Medically supervised detox is one of the best ways to overcome Flexeril® addiction because, chances are, if you’ve become addicted to Flexeril® you also have other medical conditions that need monitoring and support while you are getting Flexeril® out of your body. 

Withdrawal symptoms are relatively common for people who have become addicted to Flexeril® as well, which is important because having additional support can make it much easier to get through withdrawal without relapsing. 

If you’re serious about overcoming addiction and are ready to get the help you deserve, call Psyclarity Health. We have the expertise you need and can help you build an addiction free life. 

Sources:

1. Anne Asher CPT. How Flexeril® (cyclobenzaprine) relieves muscle spasms. Verywell Health. Published October 12, 2022. Accessed January 30, 2023. https://www.verywellhealth.com/Flexeril®-cyclobenzeprine-muscle-relaxer-for-back-pain-297266. 
2. Christina Varvatsis PD. Amrix (cyclobenzaprine) oral: Uses, side effects, dosage. Verywell Health. Published January 14, 2022. Accessed January 30, 2023. https://www.verywellhealth.com/amrix-cyclobenzaprine-oral-5211990.
3. Cyclobenzaprine: Medlineplus drug information. MedlinePlus. Accessed January 30, 2023. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682514.html#:~:text=Symptoms%20of%20overdose%20may%20include%20the%20following%3A&text=fast%20or%20irregular%20heartbeat,trouble%20speaking%20or%20moving.