Flexeril Detox: Side Effects And Withdrawal

Flexeril (now discontinued) is a brand name for a prescription muscle relaxant, also known as cyclobenzaprine and Amrix. It can be used to treat muscle spasms.

Taking Flexeril, or its generic equivalent, for several weeks or longer may cause physical dependence. This can cause withdrawal if you miss a dose or stop taking it.

Stopping Flexeril after a period of use may require detoxification, or detox, which is a process for getting off a drug after developing drug dependency.

Find out more about prescription drug detox

Who Needs To Detox From Flexeril?

Flexeril detox may be recommended for people who:

• have taken Flexeril regularly for a long time
• misuse Flexeril alone or in combination with other drugs (including alcohol)
• take high doses of Flexeril
• have a history of drug abuse and wish to stop taking Flexeril

Detox is the process of removing a drug from your system. This can take some time if you’ve developed Flexeril dependence or a physical reliance on the drug.

Although Flexeril is considered non-addictive, there have been reports of it being misused with other drugs to enhance euphoria or relaxing effects of other drugs.

Read more about Flexeril abuse and addiction

What Happens When You Stop Taking Flexeril?

Stopping Flexeril all at once after taking it for some time may cause side effects known as withdrawal symptoms. This is due to the effects Flexeril can have on chemicals in the brain over time.

Flexeril withdrawal symptoms may include:

• nausea
• headache
• a general feeling of sickness
• drowsiness

If you are detoxing from multiple drugs, additional side effects may occur. Withdrawal from certain substances, including alcohol or opioids, may require medical treatment.

Risks Of Flexeril Detox

Flexeril withdrawal is not known to be dangerous. However, detoxing from Flexeril may pose risks if you have a history of substance abuse or drug addiction.

In addition, Flexeril can be dangerous to take in combination with certain drugs, including MAOI inhibitors and central nervous system (CNS) depressants like alcohol.

If you have a history of drug abuse, seeking a detox program for medical support during withdrawal is strongly encouraged for safety purposes.

How Long Does It Take To Detox From Flexeril?

Flexeril is a long-acting drug that is chemically similar to tricyclic antidepressants. It can stay in the body for several days.

Detoxing from Flexeril may occur over the course of days or weeks, depending on whether you undergo a tapering process or stop taking the drug all at once.

Factors that can affect the Flexeril detox timeline include:

• dose taken
• frequency of use
• duration of drug use
• use of other drugs
• drug abuse and addiction
• body composition
• metabolic rate
• overall physical health

Stopping Flexeril all at once without first seeking medical guidance is not advised.

Consider seeking medical advice, or calling our helpline for more information, before making adjustments to your Flexeril dosage.

Treatment For Flexeril Detox

Detoxing from Flexeril is not typically life-threatening, but it may be advisable to seek out a treatment program if you or a loved one is struggling with Flexeril abuse.

Treatment for the Flexeril detox process can offer greater safety during detox, a reduced risk for relapse, as well as a referral for treatment at a nearby substance abuse treatment center.

Medical Detox

Medical detox, or medically supervised detox, is the highest level of care for people who are detoxing from one or more drugs of abuse.

Medical detox can offer:

• 24-hour supervision
• behavioral support
• treatment for withdrawal
• pain management
• treatment referrals

This type of short-term program is offered by drug and alcohol detox facilities, as well as some inpatient addiction treatment centers.

Drug Rehab For Addiction

If you or someone you know with a substance use problem is detoxing from Flexeril, finding a drug rehab program for or after detox may be recommended.

Rehab programs for people who have abused muscle relaxers like Flexeril can offer behavioral therapy, treatment for medical conditions, mental health treatment, and aftercare support.

Flexeril Detox FAQs

Find answers to frequently asked questions about Flexeril detox, withdrawal, and how to find addiction treatment options for Flexeril abuse.

❓ What Happens When You Stop Taking Muscle Relaxers?

✔️ Stopping any drug, including muscle relaxers, after taking it for some time has the potential to cause drug withdrawal. This can cause physical and psychological symptoms.

The most common withdrawal symptoms from stopping Flexeril cold-turkey are nausea, headache, and general malaise, or a feeling of discomfort.

❓ Is Flexeril Detox Necessary?

✔️ Detoxing from Flexeril may be necessary if you’ve taken the drug for some time or have abused it alone or in combination with other drugs—i.e. polysubstance abuse.

❓ How Long Does It Take To Get Flexeril Out Of Your System?

✔️ Flexeril is eliminated slowly from the body. The full elimination of Flexeril from your system may take several days, or up to several weeks if tapering off Flexeril.

Get Help For Flexeril Detox And Addiction

For more information about Flexeril detox, or to find a detox program, call our helpline for free today to connect with one of our addiction specialists.

Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff