Cyclobenzaprine

Cyclobenzaprine may not be a harmful medicine to be used during pregnancy. But due to lack of reliable data, it should be used in pregnant women only if other alternatives are not available.

It is unknown if Cyclobenzaprine secretes in breast milk. But, because some of the similar medicines are known to be secreted in breast milk, caution is advised. It may be given in breastfeeding mothers, only if it cannot be substituted.

This medicine may cause decreased alertness or problems with your vision. If you are affected, do not drive.

It is unsafe to consume alcohol with this medicine. It may lead to more dizziness or drowsiness.

Cyclobenzaprine should not be given for long periods. It is useful and effective only for short term (acute conditions) and is not considered safe if given for more than three weeks at one timeCertain class of antidepressants called Mono Amine Oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (e.g., Selegiline, Rasagiline, Isocarboxazid, Phenelzine, Tranylcypromine, etc.) should not be taken along with or till 14 days after stopping CyclobenzaprineTricyclic antidepressants (Amitriptyline, Imipramine, Amoxapine, Doxepin, etc.) should also be avoided while taking Cyclobenzaprine because these medicines can cause heart rhythm problems, and the risk of such effects is increased with this medicineBoth the above classes of medicines can increase the risk of seizures in patients taking this medicineCyclobenzaprine should be avoided in patients with liver disease or the elderly

Cyclobenzaprine is not a pain killer. It is a muscle relaxantThe regular pain killers that we use such as Ibuprofen, Diclofenac, Indomethacin, etc. act by a different mechanism of blocking certain substances called prostaglandins which are released in response to injury and cause painCyclobenzaprine acts on the nerves that carry impulses between the brain, spinal cord, and the muscles and causes relief by relaxing the muscle, and to a small extent, by interfering with pain signals. Most of its actions or relief of pain is due to relaxing of the muscles and hence is classified as a ‘muscle relaxant’It should be not be used for any pain. Cyclobenzaprine is effective in strains that involve muscles and where there is limitation of movement, muscle stiffness, etc. most commonly, following an external injuryIt was also found to be effective in a condition causing movement disorders in children (cerebral palsy). A variant of this condition causes stiff or muscles with impaired or jerky movements (muscle spasticity), which was relieved by Cyclobenzaprine.