Cyclobenzaprine and Insomnia: What Users Say

• Jen...
• October 25, 2015

Cyclobenzaprine for Muscle Spasm "I got this prescribed after a week of constant back pain (I twisted my back). 10 mg 3 times daily. I took one when I got home from the pharmacy (about 12 pm) and proceeded to be out for about 16 hours. Five days later, I am still having sleeping issues, both getting to sleep and waking up at a reasonable time. When I took the one pill, the back pain was gone, but I can't afford to be sleeping excessively. I'll keep it on hand for when pains are keeping me awake and I can afford to get 16+ hours of sleep, but it's not recommended if you have to function on a daily routine."

• Jon...
• October 27, 2015

Cyclobenzaprine for Muscle Spasm "Don't take this. Don't even think about it. Play around with Tylenol and Advil. This medicine's side effects to me: shortness of breath, fatigue, stomach pains-sharp pains, unable to sleep. I am drinking as much water as I can to take it out of my system, but I'm on the verge of an emergency room visit. Have in mind this is my first time. Sunday evening. 1 10 mg pill. That was all it took. Be careful. Extremely careful."

• LAE...
• October 21, 2016

Cyclobenzaprine for Muscle Spasm "5 or 10 mg works for muscle spasms, but dangerous if taken during the daytime. Caused uncontrolled drowsiness, deep sleep, difficulty waking up, constipation, blurred vision, and sudden unbearable headaches, leaving me unable to function. (5 or 10 mg doses had the same effects.) Lost a new job just 2 months after starting due to not realizing it was this medication's side effects of blurred vision, migraines, and exhaustion. I was unable to keep up with the workload and didn't relate it to Flexeril because I had been on it many years ago when I was much younger. I tried to explain to my PCP, but some docs just don't listen. I have since stopped Flexeril, no more headaches!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 19, 2020

For Muscle Spasm "I was prescribed this medication 9 months ago for muscle spasms. I noticed it lowered my blood pressure. Recently, I was given antibiotics for an abscessed tooth, and I had a strong reaction to them, they made me feel very anxious. I took my cyclobenzaprine with them 2x a day as prescribed (usually I only take 1 at night). After 10 days, when I was done with the antibiotic round, I stopped taking them and have been in heavy withdrawal ever since. It's a nightmare, and at first I didn't even understand why I felt so badly. I went to the ER with a blood pressure of 165/110. Please be aware this is an addictive drug, and everyone's body will respond differently. This is my 3rd day off, and I'm still experiencing severe insomnia, high blood pressure, and extreme discomfort. Wish I had known. Thanks. Good luck."

• ang...
• February 15, 2012

Cyclobenzaprine for Muscle Spasm "The side effect that made me stop it was severe reflux. I would wake up from a dead sleep, basically vomiting in my mouth and nearly choking on it. This happened nightly for weeks, and I just couldn't tolerate it anymore. It does help a great deal with relaxing the muscles (and for pain). I also get insomnia from this while most people get drowsy."

• Lwg...
• June 10, 2016

Cyclobenzaprine for Muscle Spasm "This was prescribed for lower back pain. I was to take 1 before bed to help me sleep. Unfortunately, my body often reacts opposite to what is expected. It gave me insomnia. My brain refused to shut off while taking it. The doctor switched me to Soma, which works well for me."

• Anonymous
• February 15, 2011

Cyclobenzaprine for Fibromyalgia "This medicine has helped greatly reduce pain, and has made it possible for me to take less pain medication. The only problem I have had with it is if I take it too late in the evening, it is sometimes very hard to wake up the next morning. It is best for me, at least, to take it at least 10 hours before I need to wake up."

• 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."

• why...
• June 29, 2016

For Muscle Spasm "Tried this drug for chronic neck pain. Doctor prescribed as better than Norvo. NO WAY! Tried first one 10 mg before going to bed. Got bad insomnia. Couldn't sleep at all-and neck pain was WORSE. Bad night-will try once more during the day. If pain doesn't get relief, I'm dropping this as worthless."

• 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."

• Pre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 18, 2016

For Muscle Spasm "Honestly, it didn't noticeably work for my back and pelvic pain at first when I took the recommended 10 mg dosage. So instead of taking 10 mg, I took twenty. If you do that, it works enough to make muscle pain tolerable. I wouldn't recommend taking more than 2-2.5 of the 10 mg pills unless you want to sleep though. However, you will get the best sleep possible! If you take more than 10 mg, and take Tylenol in between doses for extreme pain and discomfort."

• Suc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 20, 2018

For Muscle Spasm "I feel worse after taking this drug. I took it at bedtime as prescribed. I had a great deal of trouble falling asleep and then staying asleep... had that 'drug fog' all night with bizarre dreams. The next day, I felt horrible and sickly. Took the rest of the pills to the police station to dispose. Will never take this again."

• Suc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 20, 2018

For Muscle Spasm "I feel worse after taking this drug. I took it at bedtime as prescribed. I had a great deal of trouble falling asleep and then staying asleep... had that 'drug fog' all night with bizarre dreams. The next day, I felt horrible and sickly. Took the rest of the pills to the police station to dispose. Will never take this again."

• Anonymous
• December 30, 2009

For Migraine "This works well, but if I take 2 at a time, I pass out and cannot be woken up easily for the next 12 hours."

• Rai...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 18, 2022

For Fibromyalgia "Doesn't help. Only makes me sleep. 5 mg once daily."