Cyclobenzaprine and Drowsiness: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Tru...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 27, 2017

For Muscle Spasm "I was told to take 1 at night, it'll make you drowsy. Well, it did absolutely nothing for me. Called doc after 3 days of giving it a shot and was told to take 2 at a time for 3 days. The first and second night I was wired, completely hyper, couldn't sit still, couldn't sleep. It did make the spasms stop and decrease the pain. Waiting on word of what they will switch me to. Most of the time, my spasms are at night."

• Cli...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 7, 2021

For Muscle Spasm "I took 10 mg at 10 a.m., after 2 hours it still wasn't working. I was recommended to take an ibuprofen 400 mg, so I did, and I fell asleep for about 4 hours. When I woke up, the pain was still there, so I took another. The pain didn't subside."

• Nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 28, 2015

For Migraine "Prescribed for a two-week migraine (caused by hormones). It didn't make me drowsy, but it definitely did make bed more comfortable. The first time I took half of a 10 mg pill, but didn't feel anything, so I took a second. I did the same thing the next night and woke up in the middle of the night with parts of my body and my face losing sensation/going numb. I freaked out until it went away an hour later. Not sure if that's entirely normal or not, the pharmacist was vague. I'm scared to take it again."

• Drh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 21, 2021

For Muscle Spasm "I have severe lower back pain from spinal stenosis. I took this medication yesterday in the morning, and I could not stay awake. I was so drowsy and lethargic. My mouth was dry, and I had a bad headache. It did help with the muscle spasms, but the side effects from this were not worth it for me. I hated the way it made me feel."

• dis...
• July 18, 2014

For Migraine "I was prescribed Flexeril for migraine pain and relief, but it actually seems to cause my headaches to get worse instead of better. Flexeril also makes me so drowsy that I can only take it at bedtime, and then I wake up feeling completely hungover. Also, Flexeril causes me stomach cramps and diarrhea. It definitely didn't work for my headaches, and the side effects were ridiculous, so I quit taking it."

• Cab...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 2, 2019

Cyclobenzaprine for Muscle Spasm "The most common things I have noted are drowsiness, and from reading here, it makes my tongue swell and hurt. I'm so glad I read that. I couldn't figure out why! It's okay as a muscle relaxant, but nothing to write home about."

• Anonymous
• July 8, 2011

For Muscle Spasm "This medication was very effective at reducing my muscle spasms and relieving my pain. However, it made me very drowsy and also constipated, so I suggest this medication only if your muscle spasms are severe and you are using it on a short-term basis."

• InA...
• August 5, 2017

For Muscle Spasm "I was prescribed 10 mg 3x a day. Was advised to take it at night because it would most likely make me sleep. I took it about 2 hrs after I ate and immediately started feeling groggy. I slept well for about 2 hrs but then woke up with severe stomach pains. After about 2 hrs of walking, drinking water, hot compresses, I started to get diarrhea and then vomiting. I'm so tired, but my stomach feels like it keeps cramping over and over, and it's super painful. I would not recommend this drug. I would rather have the shoulder pain."

• Anonymous
• January 19, 2011

For Sciatica "I took 10 mg for just over a week at bedtime to help me sleep for back pain, but the loss of taste, or as some say 'cotton mouth,' is still with me 4 days after stopping the medicine, and the grogginess is still in my system."

• a_s...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 10, 2023

For Muscle Spasm "I find Flexeril to be less effective than Soma but better than Skelaxin. It has potent anticholinergic effects like dry mouth and in some people drowsiness. I personally don't find even 20mg sedating, but I also take Valium (diazepam) at the max dose; my Valium is also a better muscle relaxant than Flexeril. I recently hurt my lower back resulting in very painful spasms when walking. I was prescribed Flexeril 10mg T.I.D. I took one, didn't get relief, and took another 10mg tablet about an hour later. This drug takes a while to work but I did notice some benefits as far as making my spasms less painful along with some light sedation. Be aware that Flexeril is a tricyclic and is related to amitriptyline, so both share similar side effects."

• a_s...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 10, 2023

For Muscle Spasm "I find Flexeril to be less effective than Soma but better than Skelaxin. It has potent anticholinergic effects like dry mouth and in some people drowsiness. I personally don't find even 20mg sedating, but I also take Valium (diazepam) at the max dose; my Valium is also a better muscle relaxant than Flexeril. I recently hurt my lower back resulting in very painful spasms when walking. I was prescribed Flexeril 10mg T.I.D. I took one, didn't get relief, and took another 10mg tablet about an hour later. This drug takes a while to work but I did notice some benefits as far as making my spasms less painful along with some light sedation. Be aware that Flexeril is a tricyclic and is related to amitriptyline, so both share similar side effects."

• Ter...
• December 5, 2016

For Muscle Spasm "I take this on occasion after a rough day (I also deal with mild scoliosis, carpal tunnel, fibromyalgia, and osteoarthritis). I had sprained my back recently and was prescribed this medication. I have bad days and then really bad days, but I do not like to take medication unless there is no other sane choice. I took one pill last night about 7 pm to ease my pain/stiffness due to a 'really bad day' - I am still going in and out of tiredness and it is 10 am the next day. I feel tired, groggy - can't concentrate. I do not like this feeling staying with me throughout my workday - it feels like a 'time release' and comes on in waves - ONE pill 15 hours ago. I work full time and really need to be on my 'game' and... I have to drive to get here! :("

• MOM...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 31, 2018

For Muscle Spasm "My GP prescribed this med for my restless leg syndrome (RLS). I was nervous to take it, because I’m not a big fan of meds. To start, I took 1/2 of a 10 mg tab, felt my RLS relief and drowsy within 25 mins. Once asleep, I was dead to the world and had a great sound sleep, something I haven’t had for about 3 weeks. It was a little hard to wake up in the morning, but once up and moving, I got going. My body still feels relaxed and tired. I will definitely use it again and would recommend it to anyone with RLS. I also suffer from migraines. I had one when I took the tab, and it “dulled” the pain from my migraine, but I still needed a triptan to relieve it totally."

• Anonymous
• November 23, 2009

For Muscle Spasm "I was hit by a drunk driver, and upon my return to work, I would experience back pain and spasms requiring me to take a break for 10 minutes out of every hour. I was afraid that I would have to go on short-term disability because of that. This drug did wonders for me by alleviating that constant need and allowing me to perform at the high levels that I require of myself. Just fair warning, the first day or two, it will make you drowsy, so take it at night with little need to rise early. It blocked almost all of my back pain, and I could get through the 10-hour days as a restaurant manager."

• Tyr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 26, 2019

For Muscle Spasm "My neck hurt while in Mexico, so I picked up some over-the-counter cyclobenzaprine to help with pain and sleep. A full day later and I can’t eat, feel groggy, and don’t feel good. Hoping another night's sleep will get it out of my system. I don’t recommend this for me again."

• dip...
• January 9, 2011

For Muscle Spasm "Helps my lower back pain like nothing else. In fact, this is the only oral drug that has any effect on my lower back outside of opioid-based pain medicine, and those aren't good to use if you are addiction-prone. I do not recommend this for daytime use, as it is quite sedating, but that is where the side benefit comes in handy. Half a 5mg tab and I get knocked right out at nighttime."

• Mis...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 13, 2018

For Fibromyalgia "New primary doctor was concerned about my muscle pain and preliminarily diagnosed me with fibromyalgia and referred me to a rheumatologist. She also gave me Flexeril to see if it would help, as it has been helpful for others. However, it was not for me. I noticed that I was very drowsy all the time, and it interacted with my other meds. The major downside was it did nothing to relieve the pain from fibromyalgia, either, which was confirmed by a diagnosis from the rheumatologist."

• the...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 26, 2022

Cyclobenzaprine for Muscle Spasm "I was prescribed Flexeril in the emergency room after a week of low back pain with no immediate known cause, but they suspect that my back pain could be related to uterine fibroids. I was asleep within an hour after taking. I've also been experiencing insomnia related to pain. I woke up about 3 hours after taking Flexeril and was able to eat dinner while still feeling functional and able, and went back to sleep for 5 more hours. When I woke up, I felt a little groggy, but I have a lot of sleep to catch up on, and the grogginess seems to be fading away. After my first experience with the med, I will only take this before sleeping. My back pain has decreased to the point of being able to move around better, but did not take the pain away completely."

• sic...
• April 19, 2009

Cyclobenzaprine for Muscle Spasm "I have multiple chronic pain conditions, such as bulging discs, fibromyalgia, and occipital neuralgia. Fexmid is exactly the same drug as Flexeril. Both made me fall asleep and made me feel hung over when I woke up."

• Bac...
• December 29, 2009

For Muscle Spasm "I'm a 34-year-old male, work out regularly, and was prescribed cyclobenzaprine for back pain related to a pulled muscle. Was used in conjunction with physical therapy, and the drug helped me get sleep and function during the day by mitigating pain and spasms. Side effects: severe constipation. Constipation persisted for over a week after I stopped taking the drug. Had to see a doctor about it. I highly suggest taking laxatives while taking this medicine. Also made me very drowsy. Experienced dry mouth when taking at night before bed as well."

• Anonymous
• November 4, 2010

For Muscle Spasm "I was surprised to read how sleepy this made everyone. I have been on 10 mg nightly for 5 days now and have been sleeping normally. I am taking it for a moderate muscle injury to the middle of my back. I wish it would have a drowsy effect on me because while it seems to loosen up my back a little, it does nothing for the pain. Overall, seems to help a good deal though."

• ang...
• July 14, 2009

For Muscle Spasm "I sleep like a baby while on this medicine. I don't wake up with a tense neck and shoulders. I'm finally getting the rest I need. The only thing is I sometimes do not get enough sleep because of small kids, and I wake up drowsy. Oh yeah, and the dry mouth/lips. Other than that, I love it."

• Ano...
• December 16, 2018

For Muscle Spasm "I am trying to come off Valium and experiencing some upper body and neck tension when my doc lowered my dose, so my pharmacist recommended asking for a muscle relaxer to help with withdrawals. I took only 1/4 of 10 mg the first night, it didn’t do much but made me very sleepy. The next two nights I took only 0.5 mg, and it seemed to help with the muscle tension, but it made me so sleepy I could sleep for almost 12 hours straight, and that was even skipping my nightly Valium dose. I only took this medication by itself. It also made my mouth so dry when I woke up I thought I was gonna stop breathing from how dry it felt, it just wasn’t good. I really like it for the tension relief, but not that it makes me so tired and have dry mouth, and it did nothing for my anxiety-related tremors either. I will probably be asking for something else."

• Tay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 6, 2020

"I took 10 mg cyclobenzaprine, and unfortunately, it didn’t help much with my back pain related to kidney stones. My doctor is very hesitant to give anything stronger. I could see this working for some but might be a hit or miss for others. It did help me get drowsy, which is why I was instructed to take it before bed. It’s worth a try, maybe."

• Sil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 29, 2021

For Sciatica "I've been taking 10 mg three times a day or as needed. I have L3-L4 disc herniation compressing the nerve root, along with high-grade foraminal stenosis and moderate facet arthropathy. The L4-L5 and L5-S1 are bulging with facet arthropathy and foraminal stenosis as well. I'm also taking gabapentin for the compressed nerve. Without Flexeril, I have spasms not only in my leg but in my back, along with constant cramping. I am normally woken by the spasms in my thigh every morning. I have noticed some shaking of my hands and drowsiness, but for the spasms to stop, it's a fair trade for now."