Flexeril or Cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxant prescribed with rest for pain, injury, and muscle spasms. When administered in the body Flexeril begins to work within an hour or two by easing out pain and relaxing muscle spasms by blocking the nerve impulses (pain stimuli) sent to the brain. It belongs to the skeletal muscle relaxant class of drugs and one of the strongest drugs available in the muscle relaxant category. It is a benzodiazepine. (a class of drugs used as tranquilizers and commonly used in the treatment of anxiety)
How long does the effect of Flexeril last after consumption?
Flexeril is administered usually in the form of prescription pills 5 mg, 7.5 mg & 10 mg. After intake (depending on the dosage) the effect of Flexeril lasts 4-6 hours, relieving the body from pain and relaxing the muscles.
It is usually prescribed as a 5 mg dosage, three times a day, for a maximum of 10 days. The prescription may be adjusted by the physician according to the need of the patient and how he /she responds to it. Flexeril is usually not prescribed beyond 10 days as there is a high chance of it leading to dependency and abuse.
How long does Flexeril Last?
Depending on the dosage and prescription Flexeril may stay in the body for as long as 5-16 days. Flexeril is flushed out of the body via urine, stool, and saliva.
How long Flexeril stays in the body is also dependent on how often it is administered and in what amounts. It also depends on lifestyle, metabolism, age, and body weight.
Factors affecting the half-life of Flexeril.
The half-life of a drug is defined as the amount of time it takes to reduce the drug to half its original quantity in the plasma of the blood. Flexeril has a half-life of 1-3 days .It usually takes 5.5 X half-life for a drug to be completely eliminated from the system, hence Flexeril may last from 5-16 days as stated above .(5.5 X1 -3 Days=5-16 Days)
The below factors affect the half-life of Flexeril in the system.
- The dosage and the duration you take the drug.
- Your age and health (If you are older Flexeril may stay longer in your body system and if you are unhealthy it may take longer to flush out.
- Body mass -if you are obese or have a bigger body, it will stay longer in your body.
- Your metabolism – your metabolism would directly affect how long Flexeril would stay in your system.
How is Flexeril detected in the body?
Flexeril can be detected via blood, saliva or a urine test. While a routine blood /urine test may not detect Flexeril, a specific test would need to be conducted to find traces and quantity of Flexeril present in the samples collected.
It may be detected 2-4 hours from intake of the drug and up to 5-16 days after. Detection time may also be dependent on the quantity and frequency of use or abuse.
The following tests may be conducted depending on how much and for how long the drug has been consumed.
- Blood tests -they have the shortest window of detection
- Saliva test /oral fluid screening -intermediate test window
- Urine analysis – intermediate test window
- Hair test -longest test window
Flexeril abuse and dependency.
As Flexeril is a central nervous system depressant and blocks how pain sensations are sent to the brain, it causes euphoric and pleasant relaxation of the muscles. If taken for a longer period it can cause chemical dependency leading to abuse and addiction. It is sometimes abused with other depressants like alcohol and opioids.
How do you detox Flexeril from the system?
Flexeril can be detoxed at home by abstaining from it and maintaining a healthy lifestyle and exercising regularly. However, if Flexeril is abused with other depressants of the central nervous system like alcohol and opioids, then combating the withdrawal symptoms of other depressants may be a challenge and may need medical support and recovery time in de-addiction centers like AA and NA .(Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous)
Most common side effects of Flexeril overdose.
Flexeril overdose may cause the below side effects. Seek urgent medical help when you experience these.
- Slurred speech and body imbalance.
- Sudden numbness of body and shoulder
- Heart palpitations -tachycardia. (abnormal or rapid heart rate)
- Chest and shoulder pain
- Nausea and dizziness
- Drowsiness leading to heavy sleep
- Upset stomach
- Tiredness
- Dry mouth
- hallucination
Flexeril overdose and how to tackle it?
An excessive amount of Flexeril consumed may result in the above side effects & symptoms and would need urgent medical attention and hospitalization. The patient will need to be revived in an emergency /casualty care followed by inpatient hospitalization and treatment. If unattended, tachycardia may lead to further cardiac complications and a high chance of the patient going into a coma. Each resulting emergency would need to be treated separately by the concerned medical expert.
Can Flexeril overdose be fatal?
Flexeril overdose when left unattended or if care is delayed may lead to Tachycardia in turn may cause other cardiac complications. Also, excessive depressant intake may cause coma and brain damage. Limited prescribed consumption, early detection, watching for signs & symptoms, acting on an emergency may save a life.