I have 'flare ups' of sciatica, back pain & muscle spasms. Been diagnosed in my 20's with depression/anxiey disorder but was fine with the tricylic & later with SSRI's. I'm now 54 and ALL antidepressants make me more anxious and agitated. Doc said I'm sensitive to to them, even baby dosages. It started during peri-menopause... now that I'm totally menopausal, tried again... no good. PLEASE HELP!
Has anyone read that Flexeril is somewhat similiar to antidepressants?
Question posted by Dee Marie on 21 Aug 2009
Last updated on 14 June 2021 by Mr Kelley M Weldin
13 Answers
Mr Kelley M Weldin
14 June 2021
I have taken anti-depressants and many pain meds. They all have terrible side effects but they put time between what hurt you and where you are, NOW! That's all they can do put time between the event and now. I hated the withdrawals from anti-depressants. But, that took a while as well. More time! It all just takes time to get where it's just information and not something making you want to...
Best of luck with it! My heart goes out to you. Yours, KK
mhelcl
5 May 2013
Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) has been considered structurally related to the first-generation tricyclic antidepressants, however there is no mention anywhere of using Flexeril for treatment of depression.
RadAngel28
5 May 2013
Zanaflex has worked much better for me as a muscle relaxer and even sleep aid compared to Flexeril which actually made my muscles twitchy at night and wake me up. Flexeril made me feel edgy and I've never heard of it for anti depress. Good luck!
stratusphr
20 Aug 2012
I have a question... does anyone know if Flexeril causes water retention? I know it's summer and I know we've been eating out a lot but it seems like my wedding ring is 'tight' quite a bit lately. I have water pills, but I do not want to take them two or three times a week... normally I'll take a couple a month. Is Mexican food doing this or Flexeril!!!
stratusphr
20 Aug 2012
I have recently read that, but I don't know if it's accurate. Ask a pharmacist, they know all when it comes to things like this I think!! :) I am a doctor's worst nightmare, I have taken myself off my migraine preventive due to side effects. She was on vacation for two weeks, and it was really doing a job on my mood, irritability, anger, feeling 'down'. So I weined myself off and I have a prescription for Flexeril for stiff neck... I seldom ever take it, a 30 day script lasts a couple of years... BUT, I heard at a migraine support group about all these different drugs that can be used for migraines, preventives etc. Muscle relaxers was one mentioned. I started taking it that night, July 19 and had six headaches through Aug 19th. Wow... I am thrilled. The past few months I had between 11 and 13 and that was with my preventive!! Now I need to go see my neurologist and confess. I hope she's on board.
I will NOT take an antidepressant, all the ones they try have side effects I am not willing to deal with. Sexual side effect, weight gain... heck, I can get rid of migraines with Imitrex and there are NO side effects for me!
Tay Zonday
25 July 2012
Hello Dee, I myself have suffered from degenerative disk disease for about 10 years now and I've tries many therapies including pain meds, muscle relaxers, physical rehabilitaion, yoga, and epidural injections in the lumbar region. At a three day convention for primary care physicians, I sat in on an interesting panel discussion. The topic was about about a small but growing number of physicians were now using anti-depressants in pain management. The post clinical trials looked promising, At that time I had 4 bulging disks all in the lumbar region. I decided to try this, as many of the treatments I'd had to that point had less than stellar results. My primary doctor had in the past put me on 10 day courses of Flexeril. I was already on a high dose of Percocet, 600 mg. ibuprofen. and lidocaine patches.
After some time on the flexeril, I began to notice that I always felt better emotionally, socially, and more felt optimistic when taking 5 mg Flexeril/day. I went online and looked up Flexeril and Amitriptyline. Amitriptyline is belongs to a class of medicines called tri-cyclic anti depressants.The tri-cyclics include amitriptyline, desipramine, doxepin, norpramin, imipramine, and others. These medicines have been on the market for over 20 years or more, and have an excellent safety record. I should mention here that I also suffer from depression, it manifests as SAD, an acronym for seasonal depressive disorder. I'm not sure what made me look into a connection, maybe just a flash of insight. I sat at the computer and brought up the chemical structure for both amitriptyline and Flexeril. At first I thought it was a mistake or typo. They appeared to be the same drug! Upon further examination and some cross referencing, I saw there was a single nitrogen bond that existed in one, but not the other.
I don't know if the antidepressants were your doctors first line of treatment since you don't indicate what other medicines you may or may not have tried. Your doctor should have taken you of the antidepressants after you told him of the serious side effects.
It sounds like you have one or more bulging or herniated disks in the lumbar region, as that is where the nerve roots that branch into the sciatic nerve. If you were my patient, one of the first things I would do is order an X-ray and an MRI. This is the only way to see whats going on in there. Once we have the pictures, we can they discuss treatment options.
One very common protocol for back pain and spasmotic muscles might incluede a strong NSAID, such as Ibuprofen, a muscle relaxer, flexeril, valium, or one of it's analogs, and in severe cases some kind of opiate such as Percocet or Vicodin. You should be stretching 20 minutes a day to help keep the muscles loose and prevent spasming. Myotheraph, or massage, can work womders for many people. Good Luck! Hope this was hopeful
lacam31
10 Nov 2009
they are not an anti depressant.they are for muscle spasm.They are pretty good.But the zanaflex was better for me.They come in 4,6 and 8 mg.Most ins. want let you get the 8.so if your Doc put you 8mg get the 6mg and cut in 1/3 works great with the 10-norco i have to take for pain.And they don't put me to sleep like the flex did.Hope this helps you.
lacam31
10 Nov 2009
I haven't Read that.But i was on Flexeril for years about 6 to be exact.For muscle spasm.I didn't like them.I am now taking zanaflex.they are much better.And taking them along with the norco for pain they work just fine.I have chronic back and neck pain.And these two meds seem to work for me.I have been taking the norco for about 4years and have recently been taking the zanaflex 6 to 8 mg.Ask your Doctor about these drugs
subuser31
10 Nov 2009
Not really an antidepresant for me, I get somewhat sleepy on it, but the injections that I had in my SI muscle took my sciatica away from ten years of severe pain. Maybe look into it... good luck
Inactive
25 Aug 2009
I'm on Flexeril for muscle swelling and I was never told it acted like an antidepressant. It is in the antiflamotory category. I'm also on an anxiety medicine. Flexeril works great but it will make you sleepy. I can take up to 50mg a day. Good luck!
lacam31
10 Nov 2009
TRy zanaflex 4,6, and they have the 8 mg.Much better than the flex.Ask you doc.about them.
Stiff Steph
26 May 2013
I was prescribed Flexeril and didn't notice any changes with the medicine, I still felt stiffness and pain much of the time, was it supposed to help swelling? I didn't think so, I'm already on an anti-depressant, I don't think I need 2 of them.
Dee Marie
22 Aug 2009
Thank you all very much! I found the article where I saw a somewhat similarity. Will check with doc exactly what this means: "Cyclobenzaprine is chemically related to the tricyclic class of antidepressants (e.g. amitriptyline, Elavil; nortriptyline, Pamelor). As such, it should not be taken with or within two weeks of any monoamine oxidase inhibitor."
Thanks again & be well,
Dee
Buddy1971
21 Aug 2009
I've not heard anything about skelaxin(Flexerel) for depression. Call a pharmacist and he should be able to tell you. Sorry I couldn't help more,but,I allways fall back to good old stand buy,the pharmacist.
Inactive
6 Jan 2013
Flexeril is cyclobenzaprine
Inactive
6 Jan 2013
Flexeril is cyclobenzaprine
Rita226
21 Aug 2009
I have no idea about that but needed to respond to you cause of what you said.I started having anxiety and other symptoms also when I started being premeonpausal ,I started early and now it seems to be getting worse and my doc put me on an anti depressant and all I read about the pills is bad stuff makes me not wanna take them... What is tricylic??? Is it something for anxiety and depressing and does it have lots of bad side effects or no??? Sorry couldn't help you with your question wished I could've though ! But what I did hear about flexeril before was that it was a muscle relaxer ,that's all I heard !
Thanks Rita
Junior1962
21 Aug 2009
Rita, tricyclics are an older style antidepressant medication. Like all meds they have side effects. Before the SSRI's were around, I was prescribed one - amitryptline (known as Elavil or Endep here in Aussie) - for depression on a couple of occasions. It worked but took longer than the SSRI's to begin kick in (@ a month for me), had more of a sedative effect and gave me a horrible, horrible dry mouth. I was always glad to be able to come off it. I don't think it does anything for anxiety but I can't be sure.
Rita226
21 Aug 2009
well I already know I'm gonna stop them citalopram I already have side effects and don't like it a bit... right now I am tired as heck but can't sleep ... I'm a bit nauseated and dizzy ... so yea I'm gonna get off of those pills .Any idea when you come down from a pill u know after you take it? How long does it take to get rid of that feeling??? It's been already 7 hrs for me geez ...
Dee Marie
21 Aug 2009
Hi Rita, Jr. is right tricyclic's are older with more side effects. When I was able to take antidepressant's I found effexor to have the less side effects, my friend did well with cymbalta... just make sure to tell your dr. you want the lowest dose available. Most ppl feel minor symptoms for the first week or so. Not sure how long and how much (dose) your on but sometimes we get these symtoms from taking on an empty stomach. If you just started peri-menopause you could be getting period soon. If you've been taking them longer them a month or longer you should come off slowly, it won't take long but always check with your doctor! Best bet is to see gyn and/or psychiatrist. Regular MD's are quick to write prescrptions. Remember too, when you're not familiar or have doubts about take meds, it's possible you're getting anxious and may not be the medication. If you just want a none addictive anti-anxiety ask doc about busbar. Hope this helps...
Junior1962
22 Aug 2009
Hi Rita. Just wanted to say that I agree with Dee. With any of the anti-depressants, you should always taper under the supervision of your GP or psychiatrist. This allows your body to slowly adjust to the drop in dosage and is less likely to cause this 'discontinuation syndrome' or withdrawal problems.
Junior1962
22 Aug 2009
Rita, just found this on another site:
"If Cipramil (citalopram)is stopped suddenly you may experience mild, but usually temporary, symptoms such as dizziness, pins and needles, sleep disturbances (vivid dreams, inability to sleep), feeling anxious or agitated, headaches, feeling sick (nausea), vomiting, sweating, tremor (shaking), feeling confused, feeling emotional or irritable, diarrhoea, visual disturbances, or fast or irregular heart beats."
I'm not sure what the half life (how long this medication stays in your body) of it is but I would think 3-4 days. As far as how long withdrawal symptoms can last (if you have them at all; everyone is different) - again, it is hard to say. I've just withdrawn cold turkey from Cymbalta (60mg) after only being ON it for 19 days and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
Junior1962
22 Aug 2009
The drug OR the withdrawal. LOL!
MikefromsouthNZ
5 May 2013
Rita, I was on citalopram for quite some years but had to change to e-citalopram, and much kinder than citalopram.. I believe anybody living with chronic acute pain all day does get us down/lowers our mood, it's only natural.. I had finish with all my antidepressants last October because of it's long term side effects with my brain and loss of eye function,, So I now rely on sunlight to boost my serotonin levels, as serotonin a natural happy mood stimuli..
Hope this might be helpful??? Mike
Related topics
flexeril, depression, muscle spasm, pain, back pain, fibromyalgia, sciatica
Further information
- Flexeril uses and safety info
- Flexeril prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Flexeril (detailed)
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