Do you use Flexeril? Flexeril is a formulation of cyclobenzaprine that has been discontinued. However, cyclobenzaprine is still available. It’s usually prescribed along with rest and physical therapy for individuals who have muscle injuries. Due to the risk of adverse side effects and increased tolerance, cyclobenzaprine shouldn’t be used for longer than three weeks, and individuals should strictly adhere to the directions. Taking more cyclobenzaprine than recommended or taking it for longer than recommended could lead to a psychological dependency. The good news is that if you are mentally addicted to Flexeril or another type of muscle relaxer, there is help available in New York.
Table of Contents
- 1 Understanding Flexeril and Its Uses
- 2 How Cyclobenzaprine is Misused
- 3 Side Effects of Cyclobenzaprine
- 4 Understanding Dependency VS Addiction
- 5 Recognizing Flexeril Addiction
- 6 Factors Leading to Flexeril Addiction
- 7 Treatment Options for Flexeril Addiction in New York
- 8 Navigating the Recovery Journey
- 9 Additional Resources
Understanding Flexeril and Its Uses
Flexeril was a muscle relaxer that was prescribed to help individuals who were in pain due to a muscle sprain or strain or muscle spasms. While Flexeril is no longer available, cyclobenzaprine is still being prescribed and sold under the brand names Fexmid and Amrix. It is also sometimes prescribed for individuals who have fibromyalgia. Though, this is an off-label use.
Cyclobenzaprine helps people with muscle injuries by blocking the pain receptors. It also facilitates feelings of relaxation or sedation and can produce a mild euphoria. While cyclobenzaprine isn’t listed as a controlled substance, individuals can develop a physical tolerance fairly quickly. For that reason, it’s usually not prescribed for longer than three weeks.
How Cyclobenzaprine is Misused
Individuals may misuse cyclobenzaprine by taking more of the medication than is prescribed. They do this because they want to enhance the effects of sedation and mild euphoria. They may also take cyclobenzaprine in conjunction with alcohol, benzodiazepines or barbiturates. Some people have even been known to take cyclobenzaprine after consuming cocaine or other stimulants in order to help them come down after their high.
Side Effects of Cyclobenzaprine
Taking more cyclobenzaprine than prescribed or taking it with other medications and drugs can increase the risk of experiencing unwanted side effects, including dizziness, dry mouth, headaches, slurred speech, extreme drowsiness, upset stomach and an elevated heart rate.
Cyclobenzaprine should never be taken with alcoholic beverages. This can result in extremely slow breathing, memory loss and impaired cognitive function. It can also increase the risk of seizures and alcohol poisoning.
Understanding Dependency VS Addiction
Cyclobenzaprine isn’t considered an addictive substance. However, that doesn’t mean that it’s impossible to become addicted to cyclobenzaprine. For most individuals, this addiction is mental rather than physical. However, it is possible to develop a physical tolerance to cyclobenzaprine, which means the individual needs more medication to achieve the desired results, the physical withdrawal symptoms are usually very mild. When individuals stop taking cyclobenzaprine, they usually experience headaches, nausea and malaise.
When we talk about mental dependency, we are talking about addiction that occurs without a physical component. For some drugs, like heroin, the individual can be mentally addicted and physically dependent, which means their withdrawal symptoms are both mental and physical. However, the terms addiction and dependency are somewhat different. Addiction refers to someone’s psychological need to consume more of a substance. In other words, they are compelled to take more of the drug or medication and can’t control their usage, even if they try to take less.
A physical dependency can occur with addiction or without. This is when the body becomes accustomed to a medication or substance and has difficulty functioning without it, but the physical withdrawal symptoms are mild to non-existent.
Conversely, it’s possible to be addicted to a drug or medication but not dependent on it. This means that the substance doesn’t cause many, if any, withdrawal symptoms. Yet, the individual is mentally compelled to keep using it. In the case of cyclobenzaprine, addiction is usually psychological. The individual believes that if they stop taking it, their muscle pain will return, even if the injury is healed.
It’s important to note that if the individual used cyclobenzaprine alongside another substance, like alcohol or benzodiazepines, those additional substances may be addicting and cause withdrawal symptoms. In this case, the individual would need to receive drug treatment for all the substances they’ve been consuming.
Recognizing Flexeril Addiction
If you think you have a cyclobenzaprine addiction or you think one of your family members or friends is addicted to the medication, you can watch for certain signs.
An individual who has an addiction to cyclobenzaprine may go out of their way to acquire more of the drug. This may mean visiting multiple doctors to get additional prescriptions, or they may purchase the drug from a dealer. When cyclobenzaprine is purchased on the street, it’s often referred to as cyclone or mellow yellow.
The individual may also combine Flexeril with other medications or substances in order to enhance the effects. If you encounter someone who is under the influence of cyclobenzaprine, they may appear extremely relaxed to the point of being limp. They may slur their words, and they may repeatedly nod off. Their breathing may also appear to be extremely slow or labored. If the latter is observed, the individual needs medical treatment.
Factors Leading to Flexeril Addiction
Most individuals don’t set out to become addicted to cyclobenzaprine or any other medication. In the case of cyclobenzaprine, Flexeril or Amrix, the individual may have been prescribed the medication or a legitimate reason. Maybe they experienced a severe sprain or strain, and their doctor prescribed cyclobenzaprine. Perhaps, after three weeks, the pain wasn’t any better, so the doctor ordered a refill. By this time, the individual had developed a tolerance, so they took twice as much medication. When they did that, they might have experienced a mild euphoria or experienced a floating sensation. In order to increase the effects, they may have further increased their dosage and even mixed the medication with alcohol. This can lead to a psychological dependence on cyclobenzaprine, and if the individual continues to use cyclobenzaprine with alcohol, they may also find themselves dependent on alcohol.
Additionally, if an individual has a history of substance abuse, he or she may be more likely to misuse cyclobenzaprine and combine it with other drugs and medications. Additionally, individuals who take cyclobenzaprine for a prolonged period of time are more likely to abuse it.
Treatment Options for Flexeril Addiction in New York
The good news is that there are treatment options available for cyclobenzaprine addiction. Treatment always starts with detox. This is where the individual ceases to take any more of the medication. During this time, the individual’s symptoms are monitored. If they become severe, palliative medications may be administered.
Along with detox, the individual usually has a range of options available for treatment, including:
- Inpatient Treatment – This is where the individual lives inside the facility. This treatment is the most intense, but it allows the person to focus on their recovery without the distractions of the outside world.
- Outpatient Treatment – Outpatient treatment isn’t as intense as inpatient treatment. This is because the individual only goes to the treatment center for their therapy, counseling and addiction treatment services. Once they are finished for the day, they can go home.
- Mental Health Services – Addiction treatment includes counseling and therapy services. This can include individual and group therapy as well as cognitive-behavioral therapy. Some treatment centers also offer family and couples therapy as well as the ability to attend support groups.
Before entering treatment, you may want to know what to expect. The first step usually involves an assessment. This is where the treatment center interviews you to learn more about your addiction and you as a person. They may also perform a physical examination and ask about any health issues you may have. This step is performed in order to tailor your treatment program to you.
If you’re entering a residential treatment program, you’ll need to bring enough clothes for at least a week. Treatment centers do allow you to bring your own personal hygiene products and toiletries. However, they must be new and unopened. If you take prescription medications, make sure those medications are in their original packaging, and you have the paperwork that explains your dosage and why those medications are needed. If you want to bring electronics, you’ll need to ask the treatment center if they are allowed. Most allow a cell phone, but they may not allow laptops or tablets.
If you’re enrolled in an outpatient program, there’s no need to bring any clothing or supplies, unless you’ve been asked to bring items with you to your next appointment, like a journal or a notebook and pen.
During the recovery process, you’ll receive counseling and therapy, and your health may be monitored if you’re still going through detox. You’ll want to make sure the treatment center offers individual and group therapy as well as cognitive-behavioral therapy. Some treatment centers also offer 12-step programs, family therapy and natural therapies, like nature, equine, music or art therapy.
Keep in mind that your initial treatment program is just one step in the recovery process. In order to ensure your continued success, you’ll want to make sure the center offers relapse prevention, alumni services and mentoring or coaching. These services can help you continue your journey and avoid a relapse.
If you’re addicted to muscle relaxants, getting treatment is imperative. Taking more cyclobenzaprine than is recommended by your doctor can increase your tolerance and lead to a mental dependency. Thankfully, you can get help at Long Island Interventions. We have programs that are specifically designed for individuals with prescription pill addictions that can help them recover and put their pill addiction in the past.
To learn more about our addiction treatment services and how we can help you get sober, please call us today!
