Cyclobenzaprine and Drowsiness: What Users Say (Page 3)

• ann...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 18, 2018

For Muscle Spasm "I find that this drug has very mild muscle relaxant properties. It helps a bit, but not much for my sciatic pain caused by piriformis syndrome. The problem with this drug is that I am super groggy and tired the next day, and therefore must take a long nap and/or force myself to function the next day. This medication puts a big damper on my daily productivity, while the actual pain relief results are minimal. Take with caution or avoid it."

• TMJ...
• March 8, 2016

For Muscle Spasm "Dr. prescribed 5 mg of Flexeril for my TMJ, and it worked wonders for me. It completely took the pain away, and I was not drowsy, sleepy, or anything like that. I don't think I've ever taken something that has actually worked for what it was prescribed for. AMEN!"

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2015

For Muscle Spasm "I got in a rear-end collision and got severe whiplash and muscle spasms in my back. I was prescribed this, and it worked wonderfully. When I didn't take it, I couldn't move without pain and suffering. I absolutely loved this because it actually works. Sure, it makes you drowsy, so what a small price to pay for the outcome."

• ton...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 2, 2018

For Sciatica "I was prescribed this muscle relaxant along with my other pain medications for L5/S1 disc herniation. It helped with the pain, but the side effects were just not worth it. It made me feel extremely lazy and drowsy the entire day. I tried taking it at bedtime, but I would end up oversleeping and waking up the next day feeling very lazy, with a dry mouth and a headache. I can't even imagine how I would have felt if I had taken this medication 3 times a day like my doctor recommended."

• jra...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 28, 2016

For Muscle Spasm "I was prescribed the 10 mg tablet and made me completely useless. I was so groggy and sleepy all I wanted to do was sleep. I had my Dr. reduce to 5 mg. Still groggy, sleepy. I took one last night because my neck was stiff and my back hurting, and I hadn't taken one in a while. I slept OK, but had difficulty getting up. Once the initial rush of work was over at 10, all I wanted to do was sleep. I went online to see if there were similar experiences, and it appears that in general, this is what to expect from this narcotic. Mild headaches accompany the sleepiness and lack of focus. So does dry mouth. Now I'm just waiting for it to wear off so I can be back to normal..."

• Mec...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2023

For Muscle Spasm "I was prescribed cyclobenzaprine 5 mg and naproxen 500 mg for lower back pain. I took the medicine at night, and immediately I felt heavy, I could not think clearly, like a heavy weight on my body and head. I did not like this feeling! The next day I felt dizzy and groggy, not clear thinking. This medication is not for me."

• Sli...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 6, 2016

For Muscle Spasm "I was prescribed cyclobenzaprine for numbness and pain in my back, caused by a herniated T3 T4 disc. I had no relief of that pain nor the subsequent pain in the muscles that had been compensating. After two hours, the medication made me so drowsy that I could close my eyes and fall asleep, and could be woken without any concept of time asleep. While awake, I was completely unable to concentrate or retain information (I happened to take it while studying, unaware of the consequences). I then slept about 6 hours (3 hours after taking the medication) and then abruptly woke up. It took about an hour to return to sleep. I wouldn't recommend the drug if you are dealing with nerve pain or minor pain."

• Amy...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 18, 2019

For Muscle Spasm "This drug works wonders for my bulged disc in my back! But, I can only take it at night, I get completely sedated and sleep for hours after I take it. Not good for everyday/mornings before work. I take it at night."

• Anonymous
• June 3, 2009

Cyclobenzaprine for Muscle Spasm "I have had cervical fusion in the past, and when I am extremely stressed or do too much manual labor, I sometimes get severe muscle spasms. I was given samples of Amrix and took it in the evening and slept like a baby. The next day at work, I didn't have any drowsiness, but also did not have spasms or pain until it was time to take it again. I took it only for 5 days, and it was enough to calm the muscles down."

• Rit...
• December 8, 2019

Cyclobenzaprine "It's amazing to me that so many people feel this is a strong medication. I took 10 mg Flexeril for carpal tunnel a few years ago and felt absolutely nothing. No lethargy, no sleepiness, no relief of symptoms. I also tried Soma, which didn't help either. My doctor finally switched me to a real, well-known, tried and true muscle relaxant-diazepam (Valium) 10 mg, which would knock most folks out. But not me, and I'm of average weight for my height. The Valium helped some, symptoms improved a bit with rest, but still not a whole lot. So, after 2 months of trying meds and hand therapy, hot wax treatments, and rest... my doc and I decided I needed to have the carpal tunnel surgery to get some relief. That's what helped the most."

• Lau...
• May 11, 2013

Cyclobenzaprine "This drug has improved my quality of life greatly! The first week I had drop attacks at my desk at work, and I was drowsy. The key is to take this medication at 4 pm and consecutively. I do experience dry mouth too. I have four neurostimulators implanted in my head to help with pain, and I take gabapentin, Topamax, Paxil, folic acid, hydrocodone, a special gabapentin/lidocaine cream, and vitamins on a daily basis to function like a human being. For rescue, I take Maxalt, and if severe enough, Butorphanol-Tartrate. This medicine has given me hope again and made me able to decrease pain meds during the day! This med runs about $400 with my insurance."

• nev...
• August 29, 2015

For Chronic Myofascial Pain "All I felt after taking this pill was drowsy and like my legs had blood pooling in them. I fell asleep shortly after taking it and woke up with just as much back pain as I had the night before. In addition, I've felt like a zombie ever since taking it 20 hours ago. I feel like I'll never be the same again. I feel like I'm underwater and neither my eyes nor my brain can focus on or react to anything. Events are just passing me by, and I have no reaction. I don't care about anything, I just want to sleep. This is awful, and it didn't even relieve my pain."

• lmo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 17, 2024

For Muscle Spasm "I was prescribed 10 mg of this as needed by my doctor for the horrible calf cramps and lower back spasms that I get fairly often. I've put off taking them because honestly I'm scared of new medications, but while on a trip this weekend, I was struck with horrendous calf cramps while cramped in the car. I took one of the cyclobenzaprine pills and within 20 minutes, the cramping was letting up and I was able to relax and fall asleep for the rest of the ride. I did have some sleepiness, dry mouth, and very slight dizziness as side effects, but it 100% did what was intended."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 31, 2019

For Muscle Spasm "I was prescribed this cyclobenzaprine after a serious, life-threatening car accident. Like others have said, it has a narcotic effect. It made me feel like a zombie for 36 hours. I really couldn't think or concentrate. It does work once the drowsiness wears off. I was pain-free for two months after taking one pill. I just recently had to take another. It really gave me my life back. I recommend using it for muscle spasms and muscle pain."

• CNA...
• November 13, 2016

For Muscle Spasm "I have taken this medication a handful of times, but after the last dose, I have decided to stop use and ask the doctor for a different medication. I suffer from severe neck, shoulder, and lower back pain. The medication does nothing to actually get rid of the pain, what it does is knock you out. When I finally did manage to make myself get up the next day, I was groggy, which did not wear off till close to bedtime. I have had the same effect every time using this medication but was smart enough to try it on a weekend. It takes at least 24 hours to feel right again. Not looking for a knockout drug, I want something to help with the pain and allow me to function. Definitely not the right drug for me. Diclofenac will help with muscle relaxing, just not pain."

• Han...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 21, 2025

"I have an old whiplash injury in my neck and had been having a sore neck when waking up. I decided to get a new pillow to try to relieve it, but a month later, the new pillow ended up causing me to sleep on my neck wrong. I experienced a week of discomfort and pain close to the intensity as I felt when I first got my injury, and it was very difficult to sleep, even with ibuprofen. The doctor diagnosed me with an upper back muscle sprain and prescribed this medicine to take as needed up to 3 times a day for two weeks. After one night of sleep on one 10 mg pill, the pain was maybe a third of what it once was. I only took it once before bed for about four nights, each night experiencing less pain. It made me feel extremely drowsy, and my limbs felt liquidy and heavy while I was on it, so I did not feel comfortable taking it during the day. My neck is much better now, especially since the medicine made me sleep fully through the night."

• Jed...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 18, 2021

For Sciatica "I take cyclobenzaprine for herniated discs in my low back, fibromyalgia, and myofascial pain. I take 10 mg at 6:30 pm, and another 10 mg at 10:30 pm. It's meh. It makes me drowsy enough to fall asleep, but I still wake often with pain. I take 600 mg gabapentin twice daily. I take 500 mg of naproxen and one 5/325 mg Norco as needed. I was on soma before the FDA took it off the market, and it worked so much better than cyclobenzaprine! I took one soma tablet before bed, and it stopped the spasms completely, and I slept through the night. I had no withdrawal when it was discontinued, and I'd been on it for 4 years. I wish they'd bring it back, but of course, the drug addicts have to ruin everything for people who actually need it. We people with chronic pain need an easy button! Just press it, and boom, pain is eradicated! Sending prayers, love, and light to all of you. Have a wonderful, safe holiday season and happy new year!!"

• Ran...
• October 3, 2009

Cyclobenzaprine for Muscle Spasm "Flexeril is a good muscle spasm medication for acute issues. For chronic pain, it is basically not effective. I was hospitalized years ago with a ruptured disc and was given Flexeril 3 times a day. I was so out of it that I could hardly stay awake, and it took about a week to get back to normal after I was released. However, now that I have had spinal fusion at C4-5, the Flexeril is not really effective at relaxing my very hard muscle spasms. I have had 3 surgeries, 2 of them failed. The second was anterior (back of the neck) and cut through the nerves and muscles in my neck. The result is chronic muscle spasms in my neck and generally my left shoulder area. I rated a 5 based on the different indications."

• Rac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2022

For Muscle Spasm "It does temporarily relax muscles, but is highly sedating. My doctor told me to only take it at night. Morning one, I slept through my alarm, and my kids were almost late for school. Morning two was a Saturday. I slept until 3 pm, then spent the rest of the day in a terrible depression. Like, sobbing uncontrollably and thinking I was having a full-blown crisis-type depression. Needless to say, none of that was fun for my family members or me. I will never take it again."

• Anonymous
• June 27, 2019

For Temporomandibular Joint Disorder "Was prescribed this medication, cyclobenzaprine, for my jaw pain, doesn’t really help with the pain much, but puts you to sleep. Makes you extremely groggy and tired in the morning. I would not recommend this drug, waste of money!"

• day...
• December 6, 2009

For Fibromyalgia "I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia a few years back, and there was no way to help control my pain and stiffness except narcotic pain pills. About a year ago, I started trying to take Flexeril during the day to help with the tight feeling tenderness. It made me too drowsy to use during the day. So then I started to take 10 mg at night, and it helped some with the muscle tenderness. I then tried taking 20 mg at night, and it really helps with the next day tenderness. I take it in conjunction with Lyrica, and it works well to ease most of the fibromyalgia pain. The only problem is that it leaves me with a dry mouth in the morning. The drowsiness isn't a problem as long as it's taken at night. It relaxes all the muscles, and that helps the fibromyalgia pain."

• Anonymous
• December 10, 2009

For Fibromyalgia "I have used Flexeril for about 9 years now. It works great to ease my muscle pain and spasms. A lot of people have trouble with it making them sleepy, but I have never had that trouble. I can take it during the day with no drowsiness at all, which is really nice. However, it would be nice if it made me a little sleepy on the nights I am having trouble. It is a great medication, and I am very grateful for it."

• Anonymous
• July 21, 2009

For Sciatica "I notice no pain relief from this drug. It makes me extremely sleepy throughout the day and causes my mouth to stay dry. At least I get a good night's sleep, but I wake up feeling groggy and never get going after that. Sometimes causes me to feel confused, but maybe that is the groggy effect returning. I'm male, 42 years old, and in good health overall."

• Mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 8, 2015

For Muscle Spasm "I take this medication for severe abdominal pain associated with IBS. It's the best medication I have found in terms of controlling the pain, and works even better than painkillers. However, like others have noted, it makes me VERY drowsy and just gives me an 'out of it' feeling even after it wears off. I would definitely not recommend taking it if you have to drive, take a test - really anything but the most basic physical and cognitive functions are impaired."

• Dra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 18, 2022

Cyclobenzaprine for Muscle Spasm "I began taking 5 to 10 mg at night of Flexeril for terrible pelvic floor pain. I thought it was a UTI, but no. My doctor said it was a pelvic floor muscle problem. The Flexeril really helps. I have had no side effects except some drowsiness at night. It really works after about day 3."