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 together with rest and physical therapy to treat skeletal muscle
conditions such as pain or injury.
Cyclobenzaprine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking cyclobenzaprine?
Do not take cyclobenzaprine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as
isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), or selegiline (Eldepryl,
Emsam) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take
cyclobenzaprine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.
Do not use cyclobenzaprine if you have recently had a heart attack, or if you have:
Before using cyclobenzaprine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to
any drugs, or if you have:
-
problems with urination;
-
enlarged prostate;
-
glaucoma; or
-
liver disease.
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment
or special tests to safely take cyclobenzaprine.
FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be harmful to an
unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
It is not known whether cyclobenzaprine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a
nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a
baby.
Older adults may be more sensitive to the side effects of this medication.
How should I take cyclobenzaprine?
Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in
larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on
your prescription label.
Take this medicine with a full glass of water.
Do not crush, chew, break, or open an extended-release capsule. Swallow the pill
whole. Breaking or opening the pill may cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.
Cyclobenzaprine is only part of a complete program of treatment that may also include
rest, physical therapy, or other pain relief measures. Follow your doctor's instructions.
Store cyclobenzaprine at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light.
What happens if I miss a dose of cyclobenzaprine?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next
dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time.
Do not
take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Where can I get more information about cyclobenzaprine?
Your pharmacist has information about cyclobenzaprine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of cyclobenzaprine?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using cyclobenzaprine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these
serious side effects:
-
fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeats;
-
chest pain or heavy feeling, pain spreading to the arm or
shoulder, nausea, sweating, general ill feeling;
-
sudden numbness or weakness, especially on one side of the
body;
-
sudden headache, confusion, problems with vision, speech,
or balance;
-
feeling light-headed, fainting;
-
confusion, weakness, lack of coordination;
-
nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark
urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
-
seizure (convulsions);
-
unusual thoughts or behavior, hallucinations (seeing
things); or
-
easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness.
Less serious side effects may include:
-
dry mouth or throat;
-
blurred vision;
-
drowsiness, dizziness, tired feeling;
-
loss of appetite, stomach pain, nausea;
-
diarrhea, constipation, gas; or
-
muscle weakness.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell
your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about cyclobenzaprine?
Do not take cyclobenzaprine if you have used an MAO inhibitor such as
isocarboxazid (Marplan), tranylcypromine (Parnate), phenelzine (Nardil), or selegiline (Eldepryl,
Emsam) within the past 14 days. Serious, life-threatening side effects can occur if you take
cyclobenzaprine before the MAO inhibitor has cleared from your body.
You should not take cyclobenzaprine if you have recently had a heart attack, or if you
have a heart rhythm disorder, congestive heart failure, heart block, or an overactive thyroid.
Cyclobenzaprine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions.
Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of
cyclobenzaprine.
What should I avoid while taking cyclobenzaprine?
Cyclobenzaprine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions.
Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.
Avoid drinking alcohol, which can increase some of the side effects of
cyclobenzaprine.
Cold or allergy medicine, narcotic pain medicine, sleeping pills, and medicine for
seizures, depression or anxiety can add to sleepiness caused by cyclobenzaprine. Tell your
doctor if you regularly use any of these medicines, or any other muscle relaxer.
What other drugs will affect cyclobenzaprine?
Many drugs can interact with cyclobenzaprine. Below is just a partial list. Tell your
doctor if you are using:
-
atropine (Donnatal, and others), benztropine (Cogentin),
dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), methscopolamine (Pamine), or scopolamine (Transderm-Scop);
-
a bronchodilator such as ipratroprium (Atrovent) or
tiotropium (Spiriva);
-
glycopyrrolate (Robinul);
-
guanethidine (Ismelin);
-
mepenzolate (Cantil);
-
tramadol (Ultram);
-
bladder or urinary medications such as darifenacin
(Enablex), flavoxate (Urispas), oxybutynin (Ditropan, Oxytrol), tolterodine (Detrol), or
solifenacin (Vesicare); or
-
irritable bowel medications such as dicyclomine (Bentyl),
hyoscyamine (Anaspaz, Cystospaz, Levsin, and others), or propantheline (Pro-Banthine).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact
with cyclobenzaprine. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter
medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not
start a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of cyclobenzaprine?
