Flexeril and Drowsiness: What Users Say

• gra...
• June 10, 2017

For Muscle Spasm "I have severe degenerative disc disease, and Flexeril was one of many different medicines my GP tried on me to avoid opioids when he decided that he would not continue my prescriptions given to me properly by an MD in pain management. I took only one pill, not 2, which knocked me out. 1 did nothing. 2 - I could not focus, drive, etc. I was only on Soma, Clonazepam, and they are fine without Flexeril, I can concentrate without sleepiness, just need pain medication, and if someone will not prescribe, best of luck to us all - we the injured and healing. Even doing our PT, yoga daily for me, as it indeed strengthens all muscles, especially involving the spine, are prejudiced against. Thanks, FDA. We are the suffering, boo on the government, pharma companies, who will not provide relief that works."

• Wor...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 16, 2014

For Muscle Spasm "I find Flexeril 'tops' for killing muscle pain associated with spasm, knots and/or injury. Compared to Valium (which I also have), the Flexeril does a better job for the actual pain & spasm. However, Flexeril does have heavy side effects which could discourage first-time users: - Dry mouth and eyes. - A 'tight feeling' of the upper chest & bronchioles (very similar to what a high dose of Benadryl does). - Slightly blurry vision. - A substantial drowsiness which, for me, occurs about 4 hours after taking the dose. It becomes a struggle to stay awake. Definitely never go above the recommended dose - because of the harsh side effects."

• Mis...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 4, 2020

For Sciatica "Been prescribed this med Flexeril for years. I may take it once a month when I have a flare-up from my chronic pain from Fibromyalgia. I’m also on Norco (hydrocodone) and take Flexeril when needed. It takes 2 hours to start working and it knocks me out. I wake up with less pain and am actually able to move in the morning before taking my pain medication. On 10mg, I cannot take it during the day (I did in the beginning and didn’t notice much), but eventually only at nighttime."

• Bee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 13, 2013

For Muscle Spasm "Definitely relaxed my back muscles. The only odd side effect is a very, very, very strong hangover. I couldn't focus my eyes on one thing for more than a second. Caused me to sleep about 18 hours at a time."

• Sun...
• February 3, 2013

For Muscle Spasm "I get muscle tightness and spasms often after workouts as a side effect of arthritis in my back & neck (which was diagnosed for me in 2011). Flexeril was prescribed for this problem. It works great, but here is my feedback. First few times I took it, it knocked me out. Had to lay down & sleep. Took a while of taking it in smaller doses, where this effect went away. After 3 weeks of use, I started holding fluids really bad. So I no longer use it daily, only as desperately needed. Also causes constipation, so be prepared to add Fiber to your diet to help with that. When I do take it, I'm able to work out the problem areas in my neck (which bothers me the most) with sports cream rub, while on the Flexeril. I can definitely recommend!"

• LAD...
• February 9, 2017

For Muscle Spasm "It is unbelievable what a person has to go through to get pain relief. Physicians don't seem to distinguish between real and fake in spite of a patient with no history of narcotic or opioid use. I was going into two weeks of an RA flare and in between rheumatologists. Barely able to walk or use my hands that were red and swollen like sausages and unable to speak without crying, I attempted my best to explain to my doc I was having an RA flare. He prescribed Lyrica. I went to an ortho surgeon and asked for cortisone hand injections. Nope. Went to a podiatrist and asked for cortisone injections so I could walk. He gave me one, going back in 3 days for other foot. Ended up taking 3 generic 10 mg Flexeril. Went to bed, slept all night, woke up pain-free."

• fre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 27, 2013

For Muscle Spasm "Helps with muscle pain and tension. Does cause drowsiness, but if you are hurting, it is worth it. Take currently for Fibromyalgia when I am having a bad day. Can take small doses and function at work, but larger doses I will be asleep."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2015

For Muscle Spasm "My doctor prescribed 10 mg Flexeril three times per day for a painful and crippling muscle spasm in my lower back. The dosage helped relax my back, but it also relaxed everything else in my body. I had difficulty controlling my extremities, as if they were detached from the rest of my body. Sometimes I didn't have enough control of my tongue to speak clearly. Sometimes I felt weak and uncoordinated, for example, I had to take my time going up and down stairs. I felt generally sleepy and spaced out most of the time, and felt thirstier than usual. I also needed more sleep than usual, 10 hours. Overall effective for helping my condition, but the side effects were a little frightening."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2015

For Muscle Spasm "My doctor prescribed 10 mg Flexeril three times per day for a painful and crippling muscle spasm in my lower back. The dosage helped relax my back, but it also relaxed everything else in my body. I had difficulty controlling my extremities, as if they were detached from the rest of my body. Sometimes I didn't have enough control of my tongue to speak clearly. Sometimes I felt weak and uncoordinated, for example, I had to take my time going up and down stairs. I felt generally sleepy and spaced out most of the time, and felt thirstier than usual. I also needed more sleep than usual, 10 hours. Overall effective for helping my condition, but the side effects were a little frightening."

• NNG...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 15, 2013

For Sciatica "Well, I was just prescribed Flexeril yesterday for the pain I was experiencing from a L5-S1 herniated disc & sciatica. It made me feel like a zombie about an hour & 1/2 after taking it. I took a shower, and after getting out, I had no strength in my arms or legs. Dry mouth & lower leg pains when laying in bed later. It did help with the pain but will be taking only 1/2 a pill as needed vs the 10 mg 3 times daily."

• Que...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 10, 2015

For Muscle Spasm "I pulled/strained a muscle in my upper back last week, and the pain was so bad, I could hardly breathe. My doctor prescribed Flexeril, which I took as soon as possible with a little food - around 2:00 PM. About an hour later, I was out COLD - asleep for the rest of the day, that night, and until late the next morning. Good thing I took a couple of days off from work because I felt drowsy and weird for at least 24 hours after I took it. There's no way I could have driven - much less accomplished anything at work. Having said all this, it really did kill the pain. It's as if I never injured my back. But at what cost? I think I'll take 800 mg of ibuprofen instead if I ever have a similar injury."

• Jzi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 29, 2015

For Muscle Spasm "My doctor just prescribed 10mg (cyclobenzaprine) 2X daily, due to disc protrusion in my C6-7 and muscle spasms in my neck and shoulders. I have been taking it for a couple of days now, and it works great for the pain, however, it does make me extremely drowsy! The night before last, I took one at bedtime, and it knocked me out cold. I slept great, but it made me very fatigued the next day. Luckily, it was my day off, so I spent it in bed. My spasms came back in the early afternoon, so I took another one. Again, out cold! I slept all day and decided not to take another one last night because I was still very drowsy. I will reduce my dosage to 5mg around 6 p.m. and see how that works. Definitely not taking it during the day unless in severe pain!"

• Aci...
• October 20, 2015

For Muscle Spasm "I went to my doctor because I knew I had pulled a back muscle. I tend to have issues anyway with the piriformis muscle, and that aggravates the sciatica. Lower back pain and glutes tend to be an issue for me. I was getting moderate painful back spasms that felt like random poking with a sharp nail. He prescribed 10 mg three times a day for 10 days. After the second day of following the instructions, I was sleeping 14 hours a day. I was a zombie, I couldn't function, and I felt depressed. Why I still rate it at an 8/10 is because it did what it was supposed to. I stopped and only take it once at night around bedtime. If you're skeptical at first about taking the med, make sure you have the next day off. Don't drive on this."

• Geo...
• April 28, 2016

For Muscle Spasm "I was prescribed Flexeril 10 mg twice a day as needed after experiencing lower back pain resulting from epidurals (I did not take this while I was pregnant or nursing). My discs would slip out of place and pinch the nerve(s) in my back, causing me great pain. I would get adjusted to get the bone alignment right, but the swelling and pain were still there. Flexeril worked great for me. It is great to take at night; it helps you sleep. But I have also taken it during the day if the pain was bad enough. I will drink a 5-hour energy or something equivalent to help me stay awake and function at work. I definitely wouldn't take this if I were driving. This medication, in combination with an 800 mg Ibuprofen, is wonderful."

• Vic...
• May 6, 2010

For Muscle Spasm "I use Flexeril for muscle spasms that I have in my left arm and shoulder. One of the side effects of this medication is that it causes severe drowsiness. Once I take the medication, I must go to bed immediately. I am able to sleep through the night where before the spasms would wake me throughout the night. When I first began to take the medication, I found that I was very tired when I awoke in the morning. To combat this, I go to bed about two hours earlier. This is appearing to work out well. Now I awake rested and free of tightness, aches, and pains."

• Bea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 28, 2016

For Muscle Spasm "I had a breast augmentation and was required to take 10 mg 3x a day for the first few days after surgery. Never felt any pain. On my bottle, it warns of extreme drowsiness - don't know why this is such a shock to some. I ended up only taking 6 total and have some left over. It's been 3 years since my surgery, but I'm so glad I have some on hand, as I threw out my shoulder. Yes, it will either knock you out, or keep you up. You'll feel hungover either way. But it does what it's supposed to do; if you're in enough pain, it's worth the relief."

• Man...
• May 3, 2021

For Muscle Spasm "I was diagnosed with spondylolisthesis (L3-4 & L4-5) 30 years ago in my 20s. Pain was so bad I would not be able to stand, and I would drop to the floor. I had frequent pain with 5-6 extreme episodes of my back severely 'going out' for days in the next 20 years and was eventually given Flexeril. A physical therapist taught me to stretch my hamstrings and glutes when tight, as they are connected to and pull on my lower back muscles, which in turn pulls and pinches nerves in my L-vertebrae. I can usually avoid my back 'going out' by stretching + OTC pain relief, but I take 1 Flexeril at night for a day or 2 if really bad, and it relaxes my muscles enough to unpinch the nerves and relieve the severe pain. Because of my condition, I still have low back pain after vacuuming, gardening, hiking long distances, etc., but my back hasn't 'gone out' in 10 years. I do wake up groggy in the morning after taking Flexeril, so if I have to go to work the next day, I may only take half a pill."

• Anonymous
• December 11, 2010

For Temporomandibular Joint Disorder "This medicine helps ease the pain, discomfort of temporomandibular joint disorder associated with these symptoms for me. Tightness in jaw and neck, pain in jaw and neck down to shoulder. Also helps with other symptoms for me that seem to be like fibromyalgia symptoms. I give this medicine a high score. I have no side effects, except that it makes me very sleepy. I take this medicine at night before bed as it knocks me out about 1.5 hours after taking it. I cannot take it during the day as I would not be able to function without falling asleep, that is the only bad thing. Sometimes only half of the pill is needed and for others the whole pill. I stay sleeping all night long without any interruptions of discomfort or pain."

• 27b...
• March 30, 2008

For Muscle Spasm "I take Flexeril with Ultram, and it does wonders for me. I'm 27 and have a very bad back and neck. I take them in the mornings to keep the pain away while staying active. The only problem I have with Flexeril is that my heart likes to race every once in a while, and if I take it and don't do anything, I fall asleep."

• Anonymous
• February 4, 2012

For Muscle Spasm "I took this when I pulled a muscle in my back and could no longer pick up my infant daughter. I took it in the middle of the day, and it helped with the pain. Initially, it didn't make me sleepy, but the next morning, it was near impossible to wake up. It was that terrible 'hangover' feeling. It was the worst I've ever felt. I could hardly make myself wake up to get dressed and use the restroom. I lay around until almost 4 pm the next day just because of pure lack of energy. Luckily, I was only prescribed it for a week or so, otherwise, I'm sure I would have quit taking it because of the drowsiness aftereffect."

• Anonymous
• December 22, 2011

For Muscle Spasm "I have severe neck pain and muscle knots in my neck. I've been told by my doctor these knots are essentially small bone spurs that protrude into the muscle tissue, which causes spasms. This is particularly bad when it's damp or rainy. I was prescribed 10 mg of Flexeril. Overall, I'd say it works great with very few side effects. The only issue is some days 10 mg doesn't seem to help very much. I have taken up to 15 mg (one-and-a-half) when the pain or knots are really bad. At the 10 mg dose, I do NOT have any problems with being sleepy and take it during the workday all the time with no sleepiness. If I take it with a pain medicine, it will make me drowsy. The sleepiness side effect seems to vary from person to person."

• Anonymous
• December 22, 2011

For Muscle Spasm "I have severe neck pain and muscle knots in my neck. I've been told by my doctor these knots are essentially small bone spurs that protrude into the muscle tissue, which causes spasms. This is particularly bad when it's damp or rainy. I was prescribed 10 mg of Flexeril. Overall, I'd say it works great with very few side effects. The only issue is some days 10 mg doesn't seem to help very much. I have taken up to 15 mg (one-and-a-half) when the pain or knots are really bad. At the 10 mg dose, I do NOT have any problems with being sleepy and take it during the workday all the time with no sleepiness. If I take it with a pain medicine, it will make me drowsy. The sleepiness side effect seems to vary from person to person."

• Shi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 21, 2017

For Muscle Spasm "My mom, who is 92 and has dementia, was prescribed Flexeril along with Tramadol for muscle pain. After 4 days of taking them, she woke up this morning totally confused and hallucinating. She had no idea where she was and was in tears. This forgetfulness was not her normal. The doctor prescribed Tramadol to be taken twice a day and the Flexeril 3 times. On the 1st day, she slept all day, and early evening sat with her head in her hand. When I'd ask how she was feeling, she looked at me dazed and said great, and then her head would drop back into her hand. The next day, I reduced the meds to once a day. She was still sleeping a lot, but this morning she was very confused and dazed! She is done with both meds. Dementia and these meds are NOT good!!!"

• Spe...
• July 6, 2019

For Muscle Spasm "Woke up totally drowsy. Too strong for me. I will not be taking it again. Called pharmacy, and they said it hits some people this hard. Others can handle it. It takes up to 20 hrs to leave your system. Drowsiness may go on a second day. Sleep it off. Don’t drive!"

• Vac...
• May 30, 2015

For Sciatica "Was prescribed this for severe sciatica and piriformis inflammation. This drug did absolutely nothing other than knock me out for a few hours of deep sleep every time. Bad drowsiness. I was then able to find some SOMA, which is a miracle painkiller drug by comparison. Even better than the Percocets without apparent side effects. Yet, the doctors are completely paranoid to prescribe it, unlike this useless Flexeril. Just check out the reviews on both drugs and compare."