Can Dogs Have Flexeril (Cyclobenzaprine)? 3 Scary Side Effects
If you find yourself in this kind of situation, you might wonder if it’s possible for your dog to get Flexeril—a muscle relaxant that has proven effective for people suffering from severe muscle spasms and twitches.
But is it possible for your dog to actually get a prescription for this drug? If it is, then what are the benefits and downsides of giving him Flexeril?
So, we’ve talked a bit about why you might want to give dogs anti-inflammatory supplements like Flexeril. What kind of dog are we talking about, and why does this work? Let’s explore what Flexeril is really doing when it’s helping our dog.
Can I give my dog a muscle relaxer?
The FDA has authorized Methocarbamol for veterinary use in dogs, cats, and horses as a prescription drug. Methocarbamol 500 mg pills are readily accessible. First day: 20 to 30 mg per lb, then 10 to 30 mg per lb, every 8 to 12 hours for the rest of the week.
Can a dog have cyclobenzaprine?
Muscle relaxants can be given to dogs with the assistance of a veterinarian. Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), Tizanidine (Zanaflex), and Oxazepam are all examples of lesser-known products with similar qualities.
How long does it take for a muscle relaxer to work on a dog?
In around 1 to 2 hours, this drug will take action, and clinical symptoms should begin to improve.
Is Flexeril a strong muscle relaxer?
What is the most potent muscle relaxant? Systematic reviews have found that practically all muscle relaxers are effective. The sedative effects of cyclobenzaprine and tizanidine may be greater than those of other drugs in this class. There is considerable evidence for the efficacy of cyclobenzaprine, one of the most researched muscle relaxants.
Why is Flexeril discontinued?
Myocardial infarction and stroke have been linked to the use of tricyclic antidepressants, which have been shown to cause arrhythmias. Rather for Flexeril, the pharmacist ordered baclofen as a replacement.
What happens if you give a dog Flexeril?
Oral cyclobenzaprine is virtually fully absorbed, reaching peak plasma concentrations in 3–8 hours after administration. It undergoes enterohepatic recirculation and substantial liver metabolism. Depression and ataxia are the most prevalent symptoms in dogs and cats.
What happens if a dog eats Flexeril?
To avoid serious intoxication, you should take him to the vet immediately. As a result of the low dose and the possibility of making your pet sick, your veterinarian may prescribe activated charcoal to help reduce/avoid absorption. Weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, severe anemia, and neurological indications are all symptoms of intoxication, which can be treated.
Is Flexeril a muscle relaxer or an anti inflammatory?
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication naproxen with muscle relaxant cyclobenzaprine (NSAID). Naproxen and cyclobenzaprine both have comparable side effects, including dizziness, sleepiness, nausea, constipation, and stomach pain or discomfort.
Is Flexeril a strong muscle relaxer?
What is the most potent muscle relaxant? Systematic reviews have found that practically all muscle relaxers are effective. The sedative effects of cyclobenzaprine and tizanidine may be greater than those of other drugs in this class. There is considerable evidence for the efficacy of cyclobenzaprine, one of the most researched muscle relaxants.
Why is Flexeril discontinued?
Myocardial infarction and stroke have been linked to the use of tricyclic antidepressants, which have been shown to cause arrhythmias. Flexeril was halted and baclofen was ordered as a result of the pharmacist’s foresight.
Does Flexeril help with pain?
Nonnarcotic painkillers are commonly used in conjunction with the low back pain muscle relaxant cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) to relieve muscular spasms.
How to use Flexeril Tablet
Take this drug by mouth as prescribed by your doctor, either with or without meals. You should not use this medication more frequently or for a longer period of time than recommended by your doctor. Side effects are more likely and your disease will not get better any faster.
Your medical condition and treatment response determine the dose. Unless otherwise instructed by your physician, this drug should only be taken for a short period of time (no longer than three weeks).
If your problem persists or worsens after two to three weeks, make an appointment with your doctor.
Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril): Dosage & Side Effects
Flexeril, a prescription-only drug containing cyclobenzaprine hydrochloride, is a central nervous system muscle relaxant used to treat muscular spasms, sprains, and other injuries. It works by relaxing the central nervous system. Rest, physical therapy, and other methods are frequently employed in combination with this one.
Dr. Kiran Patel, a pain management expert at Lenox Hill Hospital, advises patients not to use cyclobenzaprine for an extended period of time and to stick to the prescribed dosage. According to Patel, “It is a muscle relaxant that can aid with a muscular spasm or the sense of tightness.””
Acute back injuries, such muscular spasms or considerable stiffness in the back, or a feeling that the spine is locked, are typically treated with cyclobenzaprine, according to the doctor. Muscle strains can also be treated with it.
Dosage
By boosting the release of norepinephrine from the brain’s central nervous system, cyclobenzaprine is a skeletal muscle relaxant, according to Patel’s statement.
As a pill or extended-release capsule, it can be taken at any time (brand name Amrix). The normal dosage for the standard pill is two to four times a day, while the extended release capsule is usually given one to two times a day.
The 5-, 7.5-, and 10-milligram tablets are meant to be used only for a short time. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, a beginning dosage of 5 mg, taken three times day, is the most common. The maximum daily dosage is 10 mg, taken three times a day with meals. Within ten days, most patients begin to feel better.
Patel recommends taking the medication with meals in order to lessen the effects on the stomach.
Patients should avoid using monoamine oxidase inhibitors within 14 days of using cyclobenzaprine, according to the FDA. Marplan, Nardil, Parnate, and Matulane are only a few examples. With MAO inhibitors plus cyclobenzaprine or other structurally related tricyclic antidepressants, patients have had seizures and even death in some cases.
Warnings
Who can use this medication is restricted in several ways. Cyclobenzaprine should be used with caution in individuals with urinary retention and glaucoma or other eye disorders, according to the FDA. Research on mice, rats, and rabbits have shown that the medicine has no adverse effects on pregnant women, but no sufficient and well-controlled studies have been conducted in pregnant people.
As a result, the FDA advises pregnant women to only use the drug if it is absolutely necessary. Cyclobenzaprine is not known to be excreted in human milk by nursing mothers. However, the FDA warns against nursing if you’re using cyclobenzaprine since it’s closely linked to tricyclic antidepressants, which are excreted in human milk.
Breastfeeding mothers should avoid using this medication since it’s not known if this medicine may be discovered in their breast milk, Patel added.
To our knowledge, cyclobenzaprine has not been tested on children under the age of 15. Adverse events, including hallucinations and disorientation, cardiac arrhythmias, and medication interactions may occur more often in the aged population than in the general population.
The FDA recommends that cyclobenzaprine be administered only if it is obviously necessary, as the drug’s plasma levels is higher in the elderly. Starting with a 5 mg dosage and gradually increasing it under the guidance of a doctor is the best way to go about things.
Side effects
Drowsiness, dry mouth, dizziness, exhaustion, or an upset stomach are some of the most prevalent adverse effects. Contact your doctor if these side effects become severe or interfere with your daily life, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
It’s important to get emergency medical attention for anyone who experiences severe skin rash, swelling of the face or tongue, trouble in breathing or swallowing or abnormal heart rate. Tricyclic antidepressants have been linked to heart arrhythmias and sinus tachycardia that can lead to myocardial infarction and stroke, according to the FDA.
Side effects, such as nausea, headache, and malaise, might result after sudden cessation of long-term usage. However, these withdrawal symptoms are not symptomatic of addiction, as should be noted.
Abuse and overdose
Other central nervous system depressants, such as alcohol, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and opioids, may be exacerbated by cyclobenzaprine.
Cyclobenzaprine is commonly combined with other depressants by abusers in order to induce or increase psychedelic effects, according to the DEA. The DEA has documented anecdotal accounts of its usage to generate euphoria and relaxation, despite the fact that it is not a restricted narcotic.
Cyclobenzaprine overdoses are extremely rare, yet they can still lead to death, especially when combined with other drugs. Due to the complexity of treating an overdose, the FDA suggests that clinicians call a poison control center for the most up-to-date advice on treatment.
Drowsiness and an excessively fast heart rate are two of the most prevalent symptoms of an overdose (tachycardia). Tremors, ataxia, hypertension, agitation, slurred speech, nausea, disorientation, dizziness, hallucinations, vomiting, and coma are less common side effects. Cardiac arrest, chest discomfort, and convulsions are all uncommon side effects that must be taken seriously.
Drug testing
Cyclobenzaprine is presently being studied as a treatment for combat-related PTSD (PTSD). It is currently undergoing its third round of drug testing, this time on active-duty service members. Patients with PTDS have reported improved sleep and fewer nightmares after using the medication, according to research findings to date.
The Journal of Rheumatology published a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled research in 2011 that revealed the medicine might help people with fibromyalgia sleep better.
Patients with fibromyalgia had their access to cyclobenzaprine through a medication developed in 2016, however the studies for that medicine were recently discontinued. Fibromyalgia may also be treated with other cyclobenzaprine-based medicines, though. Current cyclobenzaprine is not FDA-approved for fibromyalgia therapy.
Conclusion
Can Dogs Have Flexeril? Of course, they can! There is some evidence that it may make them more alert. I suggest reading the article to see what you think. And for those who are wondering why we wrote this blog post, this was a reference to a comment on a previous blog post.
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