Question about Flexeril

[lynnmarie219]

For those of you who are prescribed flexeril for muscle pains/spasms......just want to know how you take it so that you get the most benefit from it. It this a medication that you have to take regularly and maintain a certain level of it in your system? Or is it something that you can take as needed and still have it be effective to help control pain?

I know some people don't want to take it all of the time due to the extra fatigue...so I was just wondering!

[tuckerdog]

I take flexaril.  My rheum. gave it too me.  I was complaing about muscle spasms that kept me awake at night.  He told me he does not think the spasms are SJS related but said that I needed to get sleep.  He said that for muscle cramps flexaril will knock them out.  I take one or two before bedtime if my legs are crampy.  I used to have the leg cramps every night.  After about a week of taking Flexaril before bedtime I no longer needed them every night.  Now I only take them when I get leg cramps.   I go to bed and if I get cramps I get up and take one.  In about 15 minutes the cramps are gone.  I take them at night because they can make you drowsy and besides my legs don't get cramps during the day.

Tuckerdog

[SassieCat]

I take Flexeril as needed.  I have severe muscle spasms in my back and it helps to relax the muscles.  My script says I can take one tablet every 8 hours.  It doesn't make me sleepy though, probably because I used to take Chlorzoxazone tabs for so many years and they just didn't seem to help anymore.  Then I was switched to Flexeril.

After having back surgery it seems like the spasms aren't as constant as they used to be either.  But every now and then I forget and think I am wonder woman and do too much. 

SassieCat

[Joe S.]

I know that everyone is different but I took Flexeril for about 5 years before I developed side effects. After the alternative therapy pain clinic I was able to get by with other therapies for what it was being used for. Breathing, and meditation

[Patze]

Hi Lynnmarie,

I'm also on Flexeril and it sure has helped sleeping (well, what I refer to as my new "sleep" - I still feel like I've gone a couple of rounds with a boxer some days  ) a bit, and my muscle don't seem to hurt as bad.  I take it at night too (every night), it tends to make me drowsy and I'd rather be awake during the day than the night, well, mostly.

Please do let us know how it works for you.


Patze

[ktfabian]

I've taken Flexeril on and off for about 16 years, since my original back injury that started me down this long road.  I take one 3 times a day, not neccessarily 8 hours apart.  If the spasms are particulary bad, I take two.  Unfortunately, flexeril has lost some of its affectiveness for me.  I'm allergic to Baclofen and Skelaxin, which leaves me Robaxin, which my doctor is hesitant to give me due to it being related to Skelaxin, and Soma or Carisoprodol.  There's one other, it's name begins with a Z I believe but I can't think of it now.  It works like wonders but gives me terrible hallucinations. 

My pain doctor doesn't like Soma as it can be addicting, but I've been going back and for between Soma and Flexeril for a number of years now (my family doctor prescribes the Soma and my pain doctor just grumbles). When flexeril isn't enough, I take Soma, but not at the same time.  Neither makes me sleep anymore - I don't think anything makes me sleep anymore except general anesthesia  , but you'll have this, I guess.

Tracy

[floridagirl]

Flexeril has been my best friend with fibromyalgia for the past 35 years.  I can take three a day only though when my muscles will not stop their spasms.  It constipates me so I have to be careful with it and only take three a day when I cannot stand the pain and the rest of the days not use it.  I hate taking drugs.  I normally only take flexeril when the pain is unbearab le.

[watoozie]

I am prone to muscle spasms also and I take Soma for them.  I like it better than Flexeril, it really helps and doesn't make me as sleepy.  I have spasms in my feet, shoulders, back and rib area.  They sure can be miserable!!

[Marymum23]

For 3 years I took Flexeril about an hour before bedtime for tight muscles & cramps & pain. It was helpful and improved my quality of sleep which in turn decreased my muscle issues.  I did feel groggy in the mornings.   I now only take it occasionally. Regular exercise seems to be helping a lot now.  I swim, do water aerobics and modified yoga.   I also take Celebrex, Plaquenil, Prednisone, Myfortic( similar to Cellcept)...a regular pharmacy of stuff. 

Another thing that I take for muscle cramps & soreness is Magnesium & Calcium.  I actually take a very large amt of Magnesium (1200mg) daily.   I have 2 friends at work with fibromyalgia who started magnesium.  They feel it helps too.

hope you feel better,
Mary in LA

[SassieCat]

I take the magnesium and malic acid for the fibro and a vitamin D as well.  I feel that they help too.
When I am in a flare, I use the flexeril and celebrex and it helps take the pain away enough to help me to fall asleep.  I have to be careful not to take too much of the celebrex because of my heart and nsids easily cause stomach irraitation.

[Marymum23]

Oh that reminded me Sassiecat, I took Malic Acid for 1-2 years. I found it released muscle tension, sometimes within an hour of taking it.  According to my chiro, it comes from apples & helps bring oxygen to muscles.  My only issue with it was acidic poo towards the end of my time on it.  Taking it with food seemed to help But, That is why I stopped it.  But I really think it helped a lot. 

Oh and with the Flexeril I only took it in the evening so I would not be too groggy in the a.m.  I never got "tollerant" to it or needed a larger dose or more frequently.

Mary in LA