Mixing Muscle Relaxers And Alcohol Dangerous Effects & Abuse

Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 3 Sep 2023), Cerner Multum™ (updated 28 Aug 2023), ASHP (updated 10 Aug 2023) and others. In addition, cyclobenzaprine overdose can more easilyoccur when mixing the drug with alcohol, which can be fatal. Importantly, alcohol is a powerful nervous system depressant, which means that it slows down activity in the brain and central nervous system. This can alter perception, behavior, and movement in potentially dangerous ways. While alcohol’s effects may be desirable in some situations, they can be dangerous in others.

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If muscle relaxer addiction is accompanied by alcohol or opioid addiction, the withdrawal symptoms from these other substances can be severe and life-threatening. In these situations, it may be best to undergo medically-assisted detox. Frequent use of muscle relaxants causes the brain to become used to their effects.

This can occur as a means to self-medicate with substances or to simply induce “high” feelings. When someone experiences muscle spasms, the muscle contracts and tightens involuntarily. Muscle relaxers help to relieve this pain by relaxing the muscle and preventing these spasms from occurring. It is likely that you have heard the term “drug interaction” before. This is when a drug—usually prescription—has a reaction to another drug, food, or beverage and a change in pharmacokinetics occurs. This is seen with combinations of drugs such as sedatives and antihistamines, which both can cause extreme drowsiness making it impossible to operate a vehicle.

Flexeril is also taken to come down from stimulants such as Adderall or cocaine. However, a person who struggles with substance use disorder may have withdrawal symptoms if they stop or reduce their dose. Although withdrawal symptoms are generally mild, they may include headaches, nausea, and craving. It is typically prescribed for short-term treatment of muscle pain, injury, and spasms. If you take Flexeril as prescribed, there are minimal side effects.

If you or a loved one has been prescribed Flexeril but are no longer using it as prescribed or you’re combining it with alcohol, it may be time to seek help. A number of treatment approaches are available to help treat flexeril and alcohol addiction. Some women who mix muscle relaxers with alcohol may do so by mistake. If you’re taking a muscle relaxer for pain relief, it may not occur to you that alcohol could interact with the medication. Or, you may be unaware that your alcohol consumption is putting you at risk for dangerous side effects.

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Long-term use of muscle relaxers increases the risk of addiction. Depressants are substances that slow down the central nervous system, which both muscle relaxers and alcohol do. When muscle relaxers and alcohol are combined, they magnify each other’s effects.

• Flexeril is the brand name for Cyclobenzaprine, a prescription muscle relaxer that is similar to a class of Antidepressant drugs called Tricyclic Antidepressants.
• There is 1 alcohol/food/lifestyle interaction with Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine).
• Mixing alcohol with Flexeril can be dangerous or even deadly.
• However, when abusing Flexeril recreationally, it does become a greater risk to the user.
• Within situations of use, an individual is far more likely to use a medication in large dosages.
• If you cannot swallow the capsule whole, you may open the capsule and sprinkle the contents over one tablespoon of applesauce.

Prolonged use can increase tolerance and physical dependence, especially with Soma. For this reason, muscle relaxers are intended as a short-term treatment and not to be prescribed for more than 2-3 weeks. Muscle relaxer abuse can lead to serious dangers, such as an increased risk of overdose, which can result in a stupor, hallucinations, and seizures. Signs of overdose include chest pain, hallucinations, vomiting, rapid heartbeat, slurred speech, difficulty breathing, and extreme drowsiness.

Flexeril Overdose

Cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxant to treat muscle spasms and other related conditions. It affects nerve impulses in the brain and spinal cord, which can cause muscle relaxation. Mixing Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) and alcohol can be dangerous and potentially life-threatening. Flexeril and alcohol are depressants that can affect the central nervous system, causing drowsiness, dizziness, impaired coordination, and slowed breathing. When taken together, the effects can be intensified, leading to severe respiratory depression and other complications that can be fatal. Given the potential for abuse of this drug, it’s important to know the proper dosage for this particular muscle relaxer.

If it is, you can begin to take the necessary steps that you’ll need to recover. At Northpoint Recovery, we know that there are challenges when recovering from an addiction. We’re committed to sticking by your side throughout the entire process. Do you have questions about Flexeril addiction or about how you can get treated? Join the thousands of people that have called a treatment provider for rehab information. All content available on or through Detox to Rehab is for general information purposes only.

Flexeril High: Why This Muscle Relaxer is Creating Dependency

Many people abuse substances to feel “high.” This can be especially true for people who abuse alcohol and muscle relaxers. Some people may drink alcohol or use muscle relaxers in an attempt to alleviate negative feelings, such as stress or sadness. This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that slow down the nervous system, possibly causing drowsiness).