Flexeril for Opiate Withdrawal

Flexeril – or Cyclobenzaprine – is a muscle relaxant most often used for the treatment of muscle pain.

One of its other attributes, however, is that it can be used as an effective medication for overcoming opiate withdrawal.

Taking Flexeril comes with several risks, especially when an individual is doing so in order to combat an existing substance use disorder. The drug can trigger addiction and withdrawal symptoms of its own, so understanding it and its effects is vital.

Flexeril: understanding the substance, its effects and its uses

As a muscle relaxant, Flexeril is a drug used as a short-term medicinal option to soothe the pains and discomforts resulting from muscles injuries.

Effective in combination with physical therapies, individuals often look to take Flexeril as a way to dull pain, control spasms, and aid recovery.

In addition to sprains and breaks that result from accidents, Flexeril can also be used to support those with musculoskeletal disorders.

1. How does Flexeril work?

As a tricyclic amine salt and depressant, Flexeril targets the central nervous system (CNS) and reduces muscle hyperactivity [1]. Without affecting the functionality of muscles, the drug relieves pain and spasms by reducing tonic somatic motor activity.

In addition to reducing pain, Flexeril targets tenderness and range of motion, making movement and general comfort more manageable.

2. Flexeril and opiate withdrawal

Opiates are a form of painkiller which individuals take in order to relieve pain. They include morphine and codeine, yet can be incredibly addictive if misused.

An individual who succumbs to opiate addiction will need to undergo a detox in order to ease the physical dependence their body has developed for the substance. This treatment can be really challenging as a result of the withdrawal symptoms that arise.

3. Opiate withdrawal symptoms

Ceasing opiate consumption after a habit of regular and increasingly excessive usage will cause an individual’s body to undergo a dramatic chemical change.

The reliance they have formed is suddenly undermined, triggering a panic response of instability.

The resulting withdrawal symptoms can vary from person to person, ranging from slight discomfort to life-altering pain and anxiety. The most common of these symptoms include:

Heightened anxiety, irritability, and panic response
Profuse sweating
Temperature fluctuations
Intense nausea and vomiting
Stomach cramps and diarrhoea
Lack of desire to eat
Shaking
Poor sleep or insomnia
Cold symptoms, such as watery eyes, sneezing and a runny nose
Headaches and migraines

Due to the properties of many opiates, individuals may experience joint or muscle pain as well. If they have taken the opiate initially to relieve pain, withdrawal is likely to involve an intensified return of this discomfort.

4. How Flexeril helps

In order to combat opiate withdrawal, Flexeril can be taken [2]. As a depressant that targets the CNS, the muscle relaxant can target the discomforts of opiate withdrawal and relieve some of the most common symptoms.

Just as it relieves muscle pain and strain for those who have experienced injuries or accidents, the relaxing effects of Flexeril can ease the stomach cramps, joint pains, and general discomforts that occur while the body is getting used to sobriety.

What are the signs of Flexeril addiction?

When using Flexeril as a medicinal aid during opiate withdrawal, individuals must take care to not develop a dependence for it. Due to the sensitive state of their body during detox, they are vulnerable to switching their reliance from one substance to another.

Identifying when a Flexeril addiction has developed during the treatment of opiate withdrawal is a matter of spotting the signs that medicinal sue has transitioned into a dependence.

1. Continuing use for longer than necessary

If Flexeril is prescribed as a medication to ease the pains of opiate withdrawal, individuals are expected to use it for the duration of their treatment until they achieve a state of independence from the drug.

If consumption continues beyond this, however, a problem may have developed.

Individuals who consume the medication without appropriate need or a prescription are likely to be doing so in order to satisfy a physical dependence they have formed for the drug.

2. Increasing dosage over time

When consuming Flexeril, individuals will have a strict dosage that they are to abide by in order to optimise the effectiveness of the drug without taking it in excess. Doctors select a dosage based on a variety of factors in order to ensure safe recovery.

An individual who consumes dosages in excess of this prescription may be experiencing addiction due to the increased tolerance they have developed as a result of excessive consumption.

As they take more Flexeril, their body becomes used to its presence, reducing the impact of its effects. This incentivises higher dosages to overcome this tolerance but also leads to the build-up of even greater tolerance, and thus higher dosages in future.

The same principle applies to the frequency of consumption. A medical professional will outline how often an individual should consume Flexeril, but taking it more often than this indicates that an individual is becoming dependent on it in order to function.

3. Obsessing over Flexeril

Addiction is as much a psychological and emotional condition as it is a physical one. As a result, an individual who has developed a dependence on it will form an almost obsessive attitude towards it and its acquisition.

This can manifest in a number of ways. Most obviously, individuals will speak about Flexeril and how they can get it almost constantly. They can conduct internet research, ask other people, or even commit immoral actions such as stealing money.

This obsession will also have a knock-on effect for the other aspects of an individual’s life. Hobbies, friends, and careers will fall to the wayside, becoming less important than acquiring and taking Flexeril.

4. Taking risks in order to obtain more

Obsessive behaviour leads to risk-taking, and those who have developed an addiction will be more willing to behave in reckless or irresponsible ways both in order to attain Flexeril and to hide their consumption from friends and family.

Such behaviours might include lying, stealing, or being aggressive towards those who call them out on their usage. They may also lie to a medical professional in order to obtain prescriptions for the drug when they are perfectly healthy or without need of it.

Flexeril withdrawal symptoms

Although Flexeril can be used as a medication which eases the burdens of opiate withdrawal, those who become dependent on it during this process can experience withdrawal for Flexeril itself.

In general, Flexeril withdrawal symptoms tend to be mild. Individuals can experience nausea, malaise, headaches, drowsiness as well as muscle and joint discomfort.

These symptoms usually arise within 2 to 4 days of abstaining from Flexeril consumption and tend to last for up to 1 to 2 weeks.

Flexeril withdrawal is often manageable enough for an individual to detox themselves at home with general guidance from a medical professional, however there are circumstance when this isn’t recommended.

If Flexeril withdrawal is resulting from Flexeril consumption in tandem with opiate or alcohol abuse, an individual’s symptoms may be much more severe. When this is the case, individuals will need the support of a professional inpatient detox programme.

Flexeril overdose

One of the most dangerous risks of addiction is overdose – consuming so much of a substance that the body becomes overwhelmed and loses functionality in key areas.

Taking too much Flexeril – or using it in conjunction with alcohol or another substance – can leave individuals vulnerable to Flexeril overdose and the numerous effects that come with it. These include:

Breathing difficulties
Nausea and vomiting
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Drowsiness, dizziness and confusion
Difficulty speaking
Hallucinations
Slipping into a coma

Using Flexeril safely

In light of the potential for abuse which exists with Flexeril, it’s integral that individuals using it in order to combat their opiate withdrawal adhere to several key principles of safe and responsible consumption.

1. Strictly sticking to the dosage

The single most important thing an individual must do in order to remain safe is to adhere to the recommended dosage from their doctor.

By taking only that which has been professionally identified to be necessary for overcoming opiate withdrawal, individuals minimise the risk of their body becoming dependent on the substance.

Sticking to the dosage also allows doctors to accurately track and respond to the effects of Flexeril. If a doctor thinks more or less of the drug is needed, an individual who hasn’t secretly consumed more will be completely safe to follow this guidance.

2. Remaining under medical supervision

In addition to adhering to dosage, an individual optimises the safety of their Flexeril consumption by remaining under the watchful eye of medical professionals.

While in a residential/inpatient treatment centre, individuals can have their progress tracked and reacted to with optimal accuracy, ensuring every step of opiate withdrawal with the assistance of Flexeril is as safe as possible.

With doctors close by, the signs of any developing addictions can also be spotted and counteracted. Alone, an individual will need to remain aware of their own behaviours and health in order to catch this, but this can be incredibly difficult to do.

3. Communicating difficulties

While the safe and responsible use of Flexeril is greatly determined by the knowledge and experience of the overseeing medical professional, individuals are also responsible for maintaining open and honest communication with their doctor.

If they feel as though they are becoming addicted to Flexeril or they are concerned that their dosage is too high, they need to speak with their doctor. The same also applies if they begin to feel as though they are experiencing withdrawal during periods of sobriety.

Alternatives to Flexeril for opiate withdrawal

When considering the role of Flexeril in opiate withdrawal, it’s important to also consider the alternative medications that can be used. Research indicates that two of the main alternative drugs are methadone and buprenorphine [3].

1. Methadone

A man-made opioid, usually in the form of a green liquid, methadone reduces withdrawal symptoms and cravings. Its usage comes with a risk of certain side effects including constipation, nausea, and cold symptoms.

Certain people are not able to use methadone as a withdrawal option. Those with breathing difficulties, a history of seizures or fits, and complications with their thyroid, adrenal glands, kidney or liver should not use it.

Like Flexeril, Methadone comes with an addiction risk. As a result, it must be taken with strict adherence to recommended dosages and not be consumed in tandem with alcohol or other drugs.

2. Buprenorphine

Also used to treat chronic pain, buprenorphine is an opioid medication that can come in a variety of forms including patches, tablets, injections, and implants.

Common side effects of buprenorphine include constipation, nausea and sleepiness. For this reason, those who use buprenorphine must not drive or ride a bike as the drug can compromise their vision, concentration and coordination.

Also carrying an addiction risk, buprenorphine must be consumed with strict adherence to dosage and not in tandem with alcohol or other drugs.