Cyclobenzaprine for Fibromyalgia

I have been on Flexeril for quite some time. It was given to me for headaches and neck problems and it helped quite a bit. Once I was diagnosed with fibro, I was told that it should help that as well. The problem, like with all meds, is my body has gotten used to it so it isn’t as effective as it was in the past. I do think it is something that fibro sufferers should try. Any relief is good relief!

I have been taking it for sleep and muscle tension. It works well for me and I haven’t had any problems with it. I tend to hold tension in my neck and upper back.

I have been taking Flexeril for many years for my Fibro and can not imagine life without it.

I’ve been taking it sporadically for over a year now. It helps during some of the major flares but it also causes major stomach issues when I take it regularly over a couple of days. I make sure that I only use it when absolutely necessary so that my body doesn’t get used to it.

I really work with my awesome Rheumatologist to go on “medication holidays” so that these medications remain effective by either reducing the dosage or stopping certain meds for a little bit. It may be a little bit more painful and foggy during these few days but it’s so much better in the long run.

I use it..doesn’t do much but make me sleep..and then I wake with a headache. So do others also suffer with neck pain? muscle spasms in the shoulders and neck ? I am in a horrible state now hurts so bad..doc prescribed me Soma but insurance won’t pay..so waiting yet again..

I’ve used flexeril for years after a back injury, and now that I’ve been diagnosed with fibro I’ve definitely noticed it can help at times. Sometimes nothing can touch the pain, others its just what I need to help my muscles relax and help me drift off help to sleep especially.
There are times where it doesn’t help me anymore, but will kinda laugh when guys twice my size mention they’re on it and it knocks them out, when it kinda quits on me, I stop talking it for a bit and that usually helps.

I’ve been on flexeril 10mg since I was diagnosed 16 years ago. It helps me fall asleep and stay asleep. I’ve never upped the dosage. I wish I could take less, but I’ve tried and it doesn’t work for me unless I take 10mg. The side effects are: VERY groggy in the morning, can sleep hours on end and still be tired (10+).

Flexeril is just another name for Cyclobenzaprine and vice versa….one is the other… i cant take anything with aspirin but tried this and it didnt work…….so i am stuck with tylenol with codeine and its bad for my liver….nsaids all have asperin too so i cry a lot….but knowing its not gonna kill me helps cept i am afraid the pain from FM may mask something that will…its a catch 22

Zanaflex (Tizanidine) works much better for me, and taken at night, it works with my Ambien to keep me asleep. I’d prefer to have something else for daytime, but doctor won’t give two different muscle relaxers. At least when I need one during the day, it allows me to lay down and relax, sometimes take a nap. You DO NOT take Zanaflex and drive or go anywhere because you WILL dose off. I don’t have to work anymore, so it works for me.

I used Flexeril for many years and it seemed to help some but not completely. Then after a while my body became use to it and it didn’t work anymore. So then the doctor stopped it and it’s been a few years since I’ve been on it. I wonder if I went back to it if it would start to work again?? I have yet to find anything that really gives me any relief for any length of time and I think I’ve tried them all.

I have used Cyclo. for other back issues. My pain specialist gave me a drug called Amrix, a slow release form of flexaril.
Works greart for my fibro problems.

I take this drug and it works well with me.

I have tried it and other muscle relaxants but they don’t seems to help. And, I have a slow digestive system (stomach and intestines/colon) so any muscle relaxant only makes going to the bathroom harder. Try to avoid anything that makes that problem any worse.

I take it every day. When my muscles spasm and get tight in my neck it brings relief. It doesn’t make me sleep, but it helps manage the chronic muscle pain and spasms in my neck.

I’ve been taking this for a few years now, but not every day… I save it for really bad days and take it with Lortabs 10 and 1mg of Atavan. on a daily basis I take Neurontin.. and it seems to help. have also used a combination of OTC that I was told about when I was in the ER for a bad fall… 600mg of ibuprofen, and 1000mg of acetaminophen… taken every 6 to 8 hours…. I don’t take it for long very long… I usually only take it on days when I have to remain “alert” to help my daughter with the kids.. I think if I took it every day.. it would eventually stop working.

I’ve been taking this for a few years now, but not every day… I save it for really bad days and take it with Lortabs 10 and 1mg of Atavan. on a daily basis I take Neurontin.. and it seems to help. have also used a combination of OTC that I was told about when I was in the ER for a bad fall… 600mg of ibuprofen, and 1000mg of acetaminophen… taken every 6 to 8 hours…. I don’t take it for long very long… I usually only take it on days when I have to remain “alert” to help my daughter with the kids.. I think if I took it every day.. it would eventually stop working.

I was just prescribed this med 4 days ago, to help combat my migraines when botox hasn’t helped. Thus far I see no side effects. It has virtually reversed my jaw problems (left side kept falling out creating extreme pain)! I didn’t realise that my face muscles were sooo tight but it is helping them relax. I can def. see how it could help my fibro and RA.

I have felt completely desperate. I have not tried this medication but I am happy to hear it is being used for Fibro. I have a very bad back and severe restless leg syndrome in addition. It is hard to treat all three without over medicating or without one Rx interfering with another. I have almost lost hope of getting relief for the things that are making my life insufferable … and I hate talking pain pills. I have met with my spine care specialist, my cardiologist, my rheumatologist, and my neurologists to come to some decision about the best path of care for me without taking so many meds. I sometimes feel like giving up. I’m interested in more information.

I have felt completely desperate. I have not tried this medication but I am happy to hear it is being used for Fibro. I have a very bad back and severe restless leg syndrome in addition. It is hard to treat all three without over medicating or without one Rx interfering with another. I have almost lost hope of getting relief for the things that are making my life insufferable … and I hate talking pain pills. I have met with my spine care specialist, my cardiologist, my rheumatologist, and my neurologists to come to some decision about the best path of care for me without taking so many meds. I sometimes feel like giving up. I’m interested in more information.

I have felt completely desperate. I have not tried this medication but I am happy to hear it is being used for Fibro. I have a very bad back and severe restless leg syndrome in addition. It is hard to treat all three without over medicating or without one Rx interfering with another. I have almost lost hope of getting relief for the things that are making my life insufferable … and I hate talking pain pills. I have met with my spine care specialist, my cardiologist, my rheumatologist, and my neurologists to come to some decision about the best path of care for me without taking so many meds. I sometimes feel like giving up. I’m interested in more information.

I have felt completely desperate. I have not tried this medication but I am happy to hear it is being used for Fibro. I have a very bad back and severe restless leg syndrome in addition. It is hard to treat all three without over medicating or without one Rx interfering with another. I have almost lost hope of getting relief for the things that are making my life insufferable … and I hate talking pain pills. I have met with my spine care specialist, my cardiologist, my rheumatologist, and my neurologists to come to some decision about the best path of care for me without taking so many meds. I sometimes feel like giving up. I’m interested in more information.

I have felt completely desperate. I have not tried this medication but I am happy to hear it is being used for Fibro. I have a very bad back and severe restless leg syndrome in addition. It is hard to treat all three without over medicating or without one Rx interfering with another. I have almost lost hope of getting relief for the things that are making my life insufferable … and I hate talking pain pills. I have met with my spine care specialist, my cardiologist, my rheumatologist, and my neurologists to come to some decision about the best path of care for me without taking so many meds. I sometimes feel like giving up. I’m interested in more information.

I have felt completely desperate. I have not tried this medication but I am happy to hear it is being used for Fibro. I have a very bad back and severe restless leg syndrome in addition. It is hard to treat all three without over medicating or without one Rx interfering with another. I have almost lost hope of getting relief for the things that are making my life insufferable … and I hate talking pain pills. I have met with my spine care specialist, my cardiologist, my rheumatologist, and my neurologists to come to some decision about the best path of care for me without taking so many meds. I sometimes feel like giving up. I’m interested in more information.

I have felt completely desperate. I have not tried this medication but I am happy to hear it is being used for Fibro. I have a very bad back and severe restless leg syndrome in addition. It is hard to treat all three without over medicating or without one Rx interfering with another. I have almost lost hope of getting relief for the things that are making my life insufferable … and I hate talking pain pills. I have met with my spine care specialist, my cardiologist, my rheumatologist, and my neurologists to come to some decision about the best path of care for me without taking so many meds. I sometimes feel like giving up. I’m interested in more information.

I have felt completely desperate. I have not tried this medication but I am happy to hear it is being used for Fibro. I have a very bad back and severe restless leg syndrome in addition. It is hard to treat all three without over medicating or without one Rx interfering with another. I have almost lost hope of getting relief for the things that are making my life insufferable … and I hate talking pain pills. I have met with my spine care specialist, my cardiologist, my rheumatologist, and my neurologists to come to some decision about the best path of care for me without taking so many meds. I sometimes feel like giving up. I’m interested in more information.

I have felt completely desperate. I have not tried this medication but I am happy to hear it is being used for Fibro. I have a very bad back and severe restless leg syndrome in addition. It is hard to treat all three without over medicating or without one Rx interfering with another. I have almost lost hope of getting relief for the things that are making my life insufferable … and I hate talking pain pills. I have met with my spine care specialist, my cardiologist, my rheumatologist, and my neurologists to come to some decision about the best path of care for me without taking so many meds. I sometimes feel like giving up. I’m interested in more information.

I have felt completely desperate. I have not tried this medication but I am happy to hear it is being used for Fibro. I have a very bad back and severe restless leg syndrome in addition. It is hard to treat all three without over medicating or without one Rx interfering with another. I have almost lost hope of getting relief for the things that are making my life insufferable … and I hate talking pain pills. I have met with my spine care specialist, my cardiologist, my rheumatologist, and my neurologists to come to some decision about the best path of care for me without taking so many meds. I sometimes feel like giving up. I’m interested in more information.

I have felt completely desperate. I have not tried this medication but I am happy to hear it is being used for Fibro. I have a very bad back and severe restless leg syndrome in addition. It is hard to treat all three without over medicating or without one Rx interfering with another. I have almost lost hope of getting relief for the things that are making my life insufferable … and I hate talking pain pills. I have met with my spine care specialist, my cardiologist, my rheumatologist, and my neurologists to come to some decision about the best path of care for me without taking so many meds. I sometimes feel like giving up. I’m interested in more information.

I have felt completely desperate. I have not tried this medication but I am happy to hear it is being used for Fibro. I have a very bad back and severe restless leg syndrome in addition. It is hard to treat all three without over medicating or without one Rx interfering with another. I have almost lost hope of getting relief for the things that are making my life insufferable … and I hate talking pain pills. I have met with my spine care specialist, my cardiologist, my rheumatologist, and my neurologists to come to some decision about the best path of care for me without taking so many meds. I sometimes feel like giving up. I’m interested in more information.

Have used this drug for a year. Can’t sleep with out it. Eases the pain so that I can get comfortable.

I have been taking 30 mg of cyclobenzaprine before bedtime for about 10 years for Fibro. I fall asleep quickly and stay asleep. No morning grogginess. I have tried a number of times to cut back on the dosage, but have found I need the whole 30 mg. I wouldn’t take it during the day, however.

I have taken Flexeril in the past, and didn’t like it. It made me too tired, and very moody. Not worth taking it. just my opinion.

For Kathy from comment above, first of all I do take Flexeril, 20 mg at night probably once or twice a week because if your body gets used to it, it’s effectiveness slows. In regards to Zanaflex, Kathy, I used to take this and it is an awesome med for sleep. Knocks you out in half hour. I felt great on it. Problem is, after being on it for a few months I began beating my husband up in my sleep, and the worst part was I would have hallucinations in my sleep. One night I woke up and saw a dead zombie with blood draining out his eyes, nose, mouth and ears, he was staring right in my bedroom window at me. I was screaming and only half awake. My husband had to shake me to wake me and make the zombie disappear.. I stopped using it after that because I was scared to death, however, I do miss using it because the rested sleep from it is wonderful.. I have contemplated trying it again but maybe in a lower dose. Kathy, have you had any hallucinations from this drug?

Flexeril didn’t do anything for me. I’ve been on Zanaflex for years and it works much better.

I take 20mg of cyclobenzaprine probably twice a week and have been for 12 years or so. It is very beneficial for sleep, but if you take it everyday for a long time it does not help as well. To Kathy who left a comment above about Zanaflex, I took Zanaflex for a year or two and boy did that ever work wonders. Best sleep aid I have ever taken. But after I was on it for a while I began beating up my husband in my sleep. LOL, he would wake up the next morning with bruises. I also began hallucinating in my sleep. One night I about half woke up and saw a white zombie with blood running from his mouth, ears, nose and eyes and he was just staring in my bedroom window at me. I was screaming and pointing at him and my husband had to shake me to completely wake me up and get the zombie to disappear. Kathy, have you had any hallucinations from Zanaflex. I would like to go back on it maybe at a lower dose because I slept like a baby on that stuff but that hallucination is still vivid in my mind and it was probably three years ago. Till this day I hate looking out that bedroom window, LOL

Julie-I’ve been on Zanaflex for years and have never had an experience like that!! What dose were you taking? I was on 4mg for over a year and now I take 6mg. It’s the only muscle relaxer that has ever worked for me and help me sleep.

I took flexeril for many years and it never helped compared to the zanaflex I have been taking for 2 years now. When my insurance paid for Lyrica; thats all I needed-Period. But since I cannot afford over $300./month for lyrica, I am now taking the zanaflex with neurontin. Still not as helpful as lyrica; but much better than flexeril. *and for the woman that was seeing zombies…umm, I’m thinking a different Dr needs called! Lol

I have a stomach ulcer, so cannot take any anti-inflammatory medications.

I have been on flexeril for a long time also. I could not sleep at night without it. Pain always kept me awake. It works pretty well in my case.

I have taken flexeril and I am surprised to say that it really does help with the muscle spasms/pain. And I agree, no side effects either. Try it, it may make you sleepy at first, but then again you can take it at night for sleep.

I have tried Flexeril and I could not tell I had even taken anything. So no it has not helped me at all. Have never tried Zanaflex. Doc. wants me to try MagOx first.

I have been on Flexeril for over 6 yrs. Started out on 5mg but in the last year my family doc upped it to 10mg 3Xday. I didn’t think it was really helping until I decided not to take it at all for a few days. BAD DECISION!!! I quickly realized that it was helping me WAY MORE than I ever imagined. And when my hubby had to take some for a back issue a 5mg knocked him out for a day almost! LOL!! I’ve got tolerance baby!

I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and a connective tissue disorder not yet known. I took Cyclobenzaprine for about 3 months and it helped limit the pain some but not entirely. I am now taking Soma and it is much more helpful even though it makes me much more tired. Either is a better solution than nothing in my opinion.

I tried Soma, years back, and I stopped it for side effects. Then I started taking Flexeril. I took it 3x a day for years. Eventually I began to have problems swallowing. I went off the flexeril and I stopped having the swallowing problem. I went back on, and the problem returned. Tried this off and on 3 times. I still take one at bedtime if I have been too active that day. I take my time eating and chew very well. If I return to more than one at nite, it akes a long time for my food to make it to my stomach.

I was given flexeril for back problems originally. Now I have stopped taking it even occasionally since I wake up with a migraine from it.

I’ve taken Flexeril as needed ( not regularly) for back spasms for years. However, I have not taken one in probably 2 years because it has always put me to sleep for a long time and I feel like I have a drug hangover the next day. If I have to take one, I cut it in half = 5mg

I used it for 2
Years then they put me on soma worked great my insurance wouldn’t pay so they put me back on flexural after soma then I gorge side affect of numbness on my left side was in hospital for 2 weeks then in nursing home while was poping 13 pills then I started spotting out the flexiral and guess what. No more stroke effects then I read the side
effects that was it. On the 16th I will talk to my dr and see what to do

FLEXERIL IS GOOD HOWEVEER,WHEN I RESORT TO TAKE IT THE NEXT DAY I AMA ZOMBIE.MY DR GAVE ME 10MG 3 TIMES A DAY AND I CANNOT DO THAT.I ONLY TAKE IT WHEN I HAVE TO.
BUT I TAKE NEUROTIN(1600MG) 3 TIMES A DAY FOR FIBRO AND SEIZURES SO I THINK THIS AND FLEXERIL TOGETHER IS TOO MUCH.

2-3 years ago I started experiencing severe muscle spasms that would twist my entire torso and they would last for 20 minutes more or so. I would get ones that run through the entire length of my torso. If I turned my head doing a shoulder check while driving it would cause a major spasm running down my front abdomen and/or my back. I got spasms in that soft area under my chin causing my to feel like I was choking and unable to breathe. It was then that I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I was given a prescription of cyclobenzeprine 10 mg. It made the spasms stop almost completely. It never affected my sleep at all. I don’t sleep well, haven’t in years, tossing and turning and waking every 15-20 minutes or so. This drug never had any effect on that and doesn’t make me drowsy at all. I am up on the computer for hours after I take my meds at night. But, it does what it was intended to do.

I’ve been taking that for a few years now. I didn’t think it really had any effect until I tried a different muscle relaxant, which I didn’t like at all, so I went back to the Flexeril. I really felt the difference when I have run out of it a couple of times, it does help with my pain, but I have found nothing to help me get to sleep, and I’ve pretty much tried everything out there.

I have been on flexaril for 2 yrs now. It helps to a point. I have missed a couple of doses before and I know it. I can definitely tell how much it helps when I go without for a couple of days. I have had no side effects from it.

that is what i used to take until i started zanflex a few months ago.that seems to be little stronger,i can take 3 a day but, i usually take 1 4mg pill at bedtime ,sometimes i take 1/2 in the evening also.i wouldnt be able to function if i took 3 all the time.i accidently took 2 at 1 time recently (forgot i took 1st one) & i couldnt move,it was pretty scary. i used to take 2 of the flexaril once in a while & it was nothing like this! anyway,,,for me, zanflex taken correctly,works better.

i have fibromylagia and took this for some time it helped till my body got use to it then i had to switch to soma

I took flexiril before and it didnt do anything for me..so the Dr has me on savella and it works wonders..

Ive taken Flexeril. The worst side effect for me was constant cotton mouth. As a muscle relaxant I like Robaxin better. I want something or the mind numbing fatigue that wont also make me gain weight, like Lyrica did.

This had been the most and only beneficial medicine I have taken yet. Can’t go with out. No side affects.

I have taken Flexeril off and on for a few years. At first I felt like I had a hangover, but that passed. It does quiet my restless legs and I sleep great. BUT!!! It also gives me a nasty hacky cough, like the flu. I can’t tolerate the cough. Now doing chemo with major massive steroids, the pain has gone down. Will ask pain doc for something else when chemo is finished.

I started out on Soma in 2009, then was switched to Baclofen in 2010. The Baclofen finally stopped working, so my doc switched me to Flexeril a couple of months — which did absolutely *nothing*. It was like I hadn’t taken anything at all, even when I doubled the dose to 10mg. So, it’s back to Soma, which does work relatively well, but not as well as I need it to. Any suggestions?

Also, someone mentioned that they take Lyrica and their insurance company is no longer paying for it so they’ve had to switch to Neurontin — have you asked your doctor whether the pharmaceutical company that makes it is doing any kind of patient assistance program? I take Savella (the only thing that works at all and that I can tolerate the side effects) in conjunction with Topamax, and the manufacturer of Savella has a patient assistance program — I don’t have health insurance and am on a low, fixed income, but it’s a godsend; otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to afford to take Savella at all. Just FYI.

I have taken Cyclo (Flexerill) for many years but a very recent episode of severe depression and the introduction of Cymbalta have made it dangerous to take. The Cymbalta has some pain properties but my neck is so bad I need Cyclo. A real dilema! Mental Health or physical pain, I am hoping once summer is over symptoms of neck pain, headaches and temp sensitivity will be over too!!!

Unless you ARE depressed,DO NOT TAKE anti depressants.
If you are not depressed anti depressants make you depressed.
Drug trials say whatever the people running them want them to.
Doctors know what ONLY these drug companies tell them.
If your doctor buys into the “latest research”,find another doctor who isn’t so easily influenced.

I have tried this twice with zero success (six months at a time). Absolutely none, sadly. I am thankful it helps for others, though!

I have been breaking a 5mg in half and taking it at bedtime since reading the article. It is the closest I can get in the 1-4mg range. It has seemed to help me rest better with no hangover feeling like the higher doses give me.

Interesting comments. As with all meds and issues, some work great on some people, or they are so-so in their effects, or not at all. We have a NASTY problem! I’ve taken a number of things for the various pains and disabilities that I have from a very substantial FMS/M.E. Soma worked best for me, but at the beginning of this year, the MEDICARE Part D programs stopped paying for Soma. I then switched to Flexeril. It works OK, but not as well as Soma. I had taken Darvocet 100mgs. from an overseas company, but they ran out of supples. Bummer, as it is far better than Lyrica. So now I am back on Lyrica 100 mgs. t.i.d., Flexeril 10 mgs. tid, ARICEPT 20 mgs. @ h.s., Trazadone 225 mgs. @ h.s., and generic Xanax 10 mg.s q d. and @ hs. All in all, I am “OK,” so long as I manage my energy and stgress load. The Aricept needs to be prescribed by a psychiatrist and it works amazingly well for “fibro fog.” The last thying that I do is to have a weekly one-half hour light massage. I recommend it highly. Good luck to you all!

Ive tried it. Took it for about a yr. I ran out wasn’t taking it. When I started it back up. I realized that it was what made me feel like I was hit by a semi. I hurt all over when I woke up. Didn’t feel like that when I wasn’t taking it. Has Anyone else felt like That. Soma helps me more

Was on Zanaflex for years-never helped the pain but helped me go to sleep until my body got used to it. Had tried Flexeril 10mg for back pain before i got Fibro but it knocked me out for 2 days. Avoided it after that. About a year ago i had to have a tooth pulled and they gave me pain med as well as 5mg flexeril(to help me sleep). Didn’t take it then but when i had a bad flareup i tried it. It worked wonders for several months-almost no pain and when I would overdue it working in the yard I was still able to move the next day. I only take it at night but I make sure I take it at least 12 hours before I have to wake up the next day. Have noticed a bit more pain and stiffness lately but still feel better than without it or with Zanaflex. FYI- my doctor wrote the prescription for 10 mg and i cut them in half with a pillcutter. At Kroger i pay $4.00 for 30(10mg) I would pay a lot more for 30 (5mg) Doesn’t make sense to me but was thankful for DR telling me since i don’t have insurance.

i tried flexeril and eventually it didn’t work as well, so i am on soma, which i only take when i go to bed, as i won’t drive when i take it. giving that some thought as i sit here makes me think i should take another during the day when i definitely know i am not leaving the house.