Flexeril
Flexeril is one of the medications promoted as a muscle relaxant even though it does not have any direct effect on muscles. The relaxation is achieved indirectly because Flexeril acts as sedative and painkiller. In its chemistry, Flexeril is similar to the first-generation tricyclic antidepressants and it probably works in the same way, i.e. by increasing the level of norepinephrine — one of the brain's neurotransmitters that regulates the production of dopamine and serotonin.
Flexeril is usually prescribed in conjunction with rest, physical therapy and other measures to relieve pain and spasms resulting from muscle injuries, e.g. whiplash sustained in a car accident. Because it potentiates the opioid painkillers such as codeine and hydrocodone, it is also a useful booster to more conventional analgesics.
Flexeril has very little use in the treatment of chronic pain, but some physicians and sufferers do use it to relieve acute flare-ups of pain or discomfort in long-term conditions. There have been studies in the use of Flexeril to treat fibromyalgia. The results at low dosages over a twelve week period showed a marked reduction in pain and an improvement in the length and quality of sleep. Participants also reported less tenderness and a greater feeling of relaxation in the musculature.
Flexeril prices comparison
| Medication | Quantity | Price | Payment Methods | Order |
Consult your physician
Before you begin taking Flexeril, you should consult your regular physician to see when it is safe given your medical history. Flexeril should be treated with caution if you have glaucoma, any difficulty in urinating, an overactive thyroid gland or any cardiovascular disease. There are also very good reasons why you should not take Flexeril if you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
What are the side effects?
The more common and mild side effects include dizziness, drowsiness, headaches, blurred vision, a dryness in the mouth and an upset stomach. The less common, but slightly more serious side effects, are a growing disorientation, a slightly pleasurable loss of physical co-ordination, a slowing in your rate of breathing and an irregular heart rate. More seriously, this can progress into chest pain and seizures. Unfortunately, it can also cause erectile dysfunction. Some elderly people can become agitated even on low dosage.
There can also be problems if you consume alcohol or take any other medication that can have a sedative effect. Given that Flexeril has drowsiness as a side effect, the combination with any other depressant can amplify the severity of the side effect. Thus, avoid antihistamines, sleeping pills, tranquillisers, etc. A similar problem arises if you are, or have recently been taking one of the Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs) such as Furoxone or Matulane. If you do not allow at least a fourteen day period of washout to let the MAOI clear your system, you may find your blood pressure seriously affected with a consequent risk of fainting, unconsciousness and, in rare cases, coma and death. The risks of side effects are also increased if you take Flexeril in combination with one of the tricyclic antidepressants such as Asendin or Tofranil.
If your face or tongue swell and you develop a skin rash, this suggests an allergic reaction and you should help immediate medical assistance. However, unlike many other powerful prescription medications, the consequences of an accidental overdose are rarely more than unpleasant. To that extent, Flexeril is a relatively benign medication.
