Grandpas meds?!

[heathag]

What are some side affects of flexeril? My grandpa was put on this med about 3 weeks ago and yesterday he just seemed way outta it. He went to bed really early. He's got really bad back pain and might be going in for spinal surgery. I dont think he would take more than he's supposed to but some times i dont know with that man. He looked really bad last night like he might have taken more than he's supposed to. I tried to count them but there all choped into pieces. He has vicodin he can take. Would that be ok to switch? Thanks for your help in advance. heather

[themountains]

Good thing he has you!

It sounds like he needs to get his back surgery done.  Encourage him to do it, because the sooner he does it, the sooner he will recover and start to feel better.

Good luck sweetie!!

[heathag]

Yeah i talk to him all the time and go to his app. with him because he is a very proud man. My grandma passed away when i was 16 im now 25 he didnt want to live any more either. So i ask but he doesnt like to tell me everything i go to all the app. i can because i know he wont say anything. The doctor told him before he had that test done with the dye in his back and neck that he would need spinal surgery so he's been very down for the last month or so. So sad. He has the hardest time getting from sitting to standing. I guess he's bone on bone in the neck but he holds the bottem of his back all the time and his elbow. He just says its part of getting old. My grandparents were like my real parents and i only have the only left so im sure im over reacting but thats just how i am with him. I looked and i only found one vicodin and no refill. THere old too so i guess he wasnt prescribed those? Thanks for the response! heather

[heathag]

Yeah i have to wait until the 17th when his next doc app is beacuse the doc is outta town till then. I guess i could go talk to the people at walmart. THanks for your help avisg

[themountains]

Flexeril causes sleepyness, feeling drowsy, cloudyness... It usually is not one to be abused.  Generally with spinal injuries, or neurosurgery, if a patient is looking at back surgery Flexeril (muscle relaxers) and Vicodin (pain killers) are the main medications used to help with the pain.  

If he has chopped the pills up, then he's most likely NOT abusing them.  The reason I say this is because he would be taking several pills WHOLE.  He probably took one and realized he was really sensitive to them, so cut them up so he could take a smaller dose so he would not be so tired.

Flexeril makes you EXTREMELY sleepy (I am prescribed them for back pain) and usually people take them before bedtime for sleep, and also so their muscles are not too achy or stiff in the morning.

He needs to be taking both medications to relieve his pain.  Have you talked to him about it?  If he is uncertain, he needs to call his doctor's office so they can explain it to him.

(BTW I currently work with Neurosurgeons and Pain Specialists for the past 5 years).  

[avisg]

talk to his pharmacist and or doctor flexeril can make you very sleepy