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Author: Admin | 2025-04-28
Cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxant. It is better known by one of its brand names Flexeril®. This medication works by blocking the nerve impulses sent to the brain. It is usually prescribed to treat skeletal muscle conditions, strains, or other muscle injuries. The medicine may also be prescribed to treat back or neck pain, usually for only two to three weeks. It is not a federally controlled substance.There were 15,597,385 prescriptions written for cyclobenzaprine in 2019, representing 44 percent of the share of muscle relaxant prescriptions, according to Clinicalc. There were 2,444,451 more prescriptions for the medicine in 2018.Below, we answer some of the most commonly asked questions about this muscle relaxer.Can You Drink Alcohol When Taking a Muscle Relaxer?Can You Drink Alcohol When Taking a Muscle Relaxer?Cyclobenzaprine and alcohol are central nervous system depressants. Both work to slow down brain activity, which then slows down your heart and breathing rates. Both also can cause you to feel calm or sleepy. On its Cyclobenzaprine: 7 things you should know page, Drugs.com clearly says, “Avoid alcohol while taking this medicine. Alcohol may potentiate the side effects of cyclobenzaprine.” Also, “sedation is a common side effect.”Cyclobenzaprine may produce some side effects, which may be exasperated when drinking alcohol at the same time. These are:DizzinessDry mouthExtreme tirednessNauseaHeartburnConstipationIt is never wise to drink alcohol when taking a muscle relaxer. You could experience any number of adverse effects if you do, including some which could be possibly dangerous, as Healthline notes. These are:Reduced motor controlMemory problemsRisk of seizures increasedRisk of overdose increasedAlcohol and cyclobenzaprine can be addictive if they are misused or abused and increase the risk of addiction.How Long to Wait to Drink After Taking a Muscle Relaxer?Muscle relaxers like cyclobenzaprine usually last around four to six hours. Cyclobenzaprine has a half-life that ranges between eight to 37 hours for most adults. The half-life of a substance is the amount of time it takes for your body to metabolize half of the medication and remove it from your body.When determining when to have a drink, you should consider these factors, as they relate to your physicality:Your ageHow your liver functionsYour metabolismMuscle relaxers stay in your system longer than 24 hours. If you must have an alcoholic beverage, it is best to wait 24 hours or longer after taking your last dose of the muscle relaxer to avoid any potentially harmful effects.What Are the Risks of Mixing Alcohol And Muscle Relaxants?What Are the Risks of Mixing Alcohol And Muscle Relaxants?If you abuse alcohol and are taking cyclobenzaprine, you may feel like your body and mind are significantly slowed. Another risk you take when drinking while on a muscle relaxer is respiratory depression. Johns Hopkins Medicine indicates that this condition is marked with these signs:Breathing rate: Increase in the number of breaths per minute a person takes means they are having trouble breathingBluish color: A bluish color around the mouth, inside of the lips, or on fingernails indicates a lack of oxygen.Grunting: Grunting is heard each
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