Anyone tried to stop FLEXERIL after long term use?

[Sassisu]

I have been prescribed Flexeril for over a year, as a muscle relaxant for long term back and neck pain...  I was told it was a 'safe' drug, and not to worry about it - it was not addicting. Now, after taking it for this long, I have re-read the patient information packet, and see that it is only for short term use, and I cannot find information on how to titrate off.

I get migraine headaches whenever I stop taking it for any length of time, as well as other symptoms...  Can anyone help me with their experience, referrals to information sources, or even to experts who have the infomation I seek?

thank you in advance,  Sassisu

[MK1Mike]

I have been taking 10 mg of flexeril semi regularly at bed time for about 15 years due to disc issues in my cervical spine. My condition makes it difficult to find a comfortable position while in bed which causes sleep issues. My PCP seems to feel far more comfortable with me taking that level of dosage for sleep rather than prescribing other sleeping medications. I use it 3-4 times per week with no withdrawal issues.

[Md_rma]

Even tho this is an old thread people still view it and are taking information/advice from it. So..We need to clear up a few things.first to comment on this post, of course you don't have withdrawals. You take it every single night. You don't get withdrawals when you are taking a drug, it's when you stop!! To the person that listened to their idiot doctor that told them to stop percocet cold turkey after a year or more of being on it, DO NOT do this. That was 100% of your withdrawal symptoms. (Source medical knowledge and experience with opiates) Next...Flexeril long term than stopping can and 95% sure will give you minor to severe headaches, rebound muscle tension, and/or bouts of nausea...Also for the people on numerous drugs for cholesterol/blood sugar/any and all drugs, please change your diet.for example gluten is not just bad for celiac and gluten intolerance..it's bad for all of us and put in our food supply as a thickener or to make your food more "appealing". Cut out ALL corn syrup..refined sugar is bad enough. Corn syrup is horrible. CARAGEENEN used in some brands of alternative milks and "healthy" snacks is bad. The chicken you are buying and other meats are full of antibiotics. There is wax on your non organic processed fruits. Also look into natural supplements and I don't mean at walmart.go online or a whole foods store. A cheap multivitamin is made with man made vitamins that the human intestine can't even absorb. A good place to start is Curcumin from tumeric with bioperine, CBD, deglycerrized licorice root, reis hi mushroom, buoavaliable converted vitamins, cycobalamin b12

[musicmom27]

well, add me to the list of long-time flexeril users attempting to go off too soon.  i had a car accident almost five years ago (feb '15) and my hands took the impact from the air bag in the steering wheel. flexeril and mobic were added to my drug cocktail.  i'm already a fibro/migraine patient and was taking topamax, effexor, gabapentin, and ambien plus meds to lower blood pressure and cholesterol.  the flexeril and mobic both helped my fibro symptoms and once my hands and left arm were rehabbed after a year the rheumatologist kept the meds on my list.  now i have cataracts!  i'm only 46!!  the eye doc says several meds can contribute to the formation of cataracts as well as genetics, nutrition, etc but i am on several meds that cause photo sensitivity.  flexeril is the first to go.  the migraine has started after three days.  sigh.

[The8erOne]

I have been on Percocet 10/325 for close to 7 years. I am also on Nucynta 100mg, Butrans Patch 10mcg, Flexeril 10mg, Lexapro 10mg and Naproxen 500mg. I recently saw a New Dr. a rheumatologist he put me on Cymbalta 30mg for 10 days then 60mg after that. When I had the Rx filled my Pharmacist said I could not take the Flexeril and Lexapro with the Cymbalta as it can cause some kind of syndrome that can be fatal. So I stopped both. A week later I saw my Pain Management/Orthopedic Surgeon and they said they were taking me off Percocet. I thought ok I don't want to be on all these drugs anymore so ok. BAD BAD BAD decision. The last 3-4 weeks have been pure HELL, from itching to rashes to body aches and headaches to being in bed for 3-4 even 5 days straight no food barely anything to drink and hardly going to bathroom, just 0 energy, add to that diarrhea, dizziness, stress, just feeling like I'm not here. Now my brain feels like it is juggling around in my head and my ears are getting that sound in them like when you get water in them after swimming. Just one thing after another. My Rheumatologist and my Pharmacist both said withdrawal from Percocet for sure and maybe the Flexeril. I will see my Pain Dr. on Monday for the 1st time since I was taken of Percocet last month. I'm so pissed/frustrated etc. I guess that is why Dr's are practicing medicine because they are not experts. All the advise I can give is if you are trying to come off any drug take your time unless you enjoy discomfort. As far as Flexeril withdrawal I believe it is an issue and needs to be treated like any other drug withdrawals. Hope this helps someone. Don't give up and don't give in.

[Kmhf]

I posted on 8/10/2014 that decreasing Flexeril from 20mg to 5mg gave me a nasty migraine headache.. while I was not confined to bed it was a constant nagging headache.. the headache was the worse for the first two weeks and very, very slowly subsided.. it lasted for 29 days.  Suppose that is from taking it for 25 years.  My suggestion to anybody wanting to stop or reduce their daily dose is to titrate down very, very slowly.  

[Kmhf]

I've been taking Flexeril since 1989.. it all began for Bruxism taking 10mg at bedtime.. In 2002 was diagnosed with Fibro and dose increased to 40mg at bedtime to promote sleep.  for the bulk of the time I never had a problem with extreme day time fatigue and weakness..until a year ago.. so a few months ago I cut back from 40mg to 20mg at bedtime with no symptoms of withdrawl to note.  On Wednesday 7/30 I cut back from 20mg to 5mg at bedtime. Less than 72 hours later I began to experience a nasty migraine headache in the back of my head.. even my cervical neck muscles feel like they have a migraine when I turn my head.. I've had this headache since 8/1 .. today is 8/10 and I still have it. While I realize that taking more would probably eliminate the headache and could  then taper down more gently am going to try to tough it out as not having any hangover effect is quite nice.  Will try to remember to post again when the headache ceases.  

[Swamprat1]

Sometimes going to an. NA meeting helps very much. Just being able to talk to other people who have gone threw it before gives you hope! The opiate withdrawal   Day three is the worst then everyday will get better.You only have to do it once! Good luck be strong