Muscle relaxants are not recommended for use by pregnant women, older adults, or people who have a history of depression or drug or alcohol abuse. Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products). If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist. Cyclobenzaprine is used short-term to treat what foods have alcohol in them muscle spasms.
Cyclobenzaprine and certain health conditions
But so far, evidence supporting the use of baclofen for alcohol withdrawal is limited. Alcohol withdrawal is a condition that occurs when a person who’s been drinking heavily or for a prolonged period stops drinking alcohol. If you’re taking a muscle relaxer, you should avoid consuming alcohol. Read on to learn more about muscle relaxers and why they don’t mix with alcohol. Plus, find out what to do if you’ve already mixed the two.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor’s orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
Mixing muscle relaxers and alcohol can make the effects of muscle relaxers more intense — and not in a good way. Muscle relaxers stay in your system longer than 24 hours. If you must have an alcoholic beverage, it is best to wait 24 hours or longer after taking your last dose of the muscle relaxer to avoid any potentially harmful effects. Treatment for cyclobenzaprine and alcohol abuse can be done simultaneously or separately. However, treatment can affect people differently, so it’s best to find the right treatment option for you.
Central nervous system (CNS) depressants
If you think you may have a accutane and alcohol interaction medical emergency, immediately call your physician or dial 911. An interaction between cyclobenzaprine and alcohol can enhance the depressant effects of both substances. This can cause unwanted and often severe side effects that harm your health.
- Although cyclobenzaprine does not have any notable food interactions, there are some other interactions and precautions to be aware of.
- It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
- Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.
- If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your physician or dial 911.
This medication should only be used short-term (for 3 weeks or less) unless directed by your doctor. If you are not able to swallow the extended-release capsule whole, mix the contents of the capsule with applesauce. After you eat the mixture, take a drink, and swish and swallow to make sure that you have received all the medication. Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Your healthcare provider may decide to recommend a lower dose of cyclobenzaprine—or prescribe a different drug altogether. Serotonin syndrome is a life-threatening condition caused by the buildup of serotonin. This can happen when you take more powerless over alcohol examples than one medication that increases serotonin level, or if you take too high a dosage of a medicine that increases serotonin. If you have any of these symptoms, seek emergency medical care. Alcohol should be avoided if you are under treatment with a centrally-acting muscle relaxant (like cyclobenzaprine, baclofen, methocarbamol or tizanidine). When muscle relaxants are combined with alcohol (ethanol), side effects such as drowsiness, confusion, dizziness, and errors in judgement can occur.
Common Side Effects of Cyclobenzaprine
The American Geriatrics Society’s Criteria for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults outlines medications that may not be safe for older adults (generally 65 years or older). Experts note that cyclobenzaprine is poorly tolerated by older adults due to these side effects and that the lower doses prescribed for older adults are not always effective. Alcohol can increase the nervous system side effects of cyclobenzaprine such as dizziness, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating. Some people may also experience impairment in thinking and judgment. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with cyclobenzaprine.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully. Remember, alcohol can intensify the effects of muscle relaxers, and combining the two can lead to an increased risk of overdose.
If you cannot swallow the capsule whole, you may open the capsule and sprinkle the contents over one tablespoon of applesauce. Rinse the mouth to make sure all of the medicine have been swallowed. Because of the possibility of higher blood levels in the elderly as compared to younger adults, use of cyclobenzaprine extended-release capsules is not recommended in the elderly. The combination with cyclobenzaprine could cause additive CNS depressant effects. Below, we answer some of the most commonly asked questions about this muscle relaxer.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take. Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of cyclobenzaprine extended-release capsules in the pediatric population. Alcohol isn’t the only thing to steer clear of while taking muscle relaxers. A 2017 review couldn’t draw concrete conclusions about the effectiveness of baclofen in treating alcohol withdrawal.
Take this medication by mouth with or without food as directed by your doctor. Do not increase your dose or use this drug more often or for longer than prescribed. Your condition will not improve any faster, and your risk of side effects will increase. Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. If you do drink alcohol, talk to your healthcare provider.
This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. You may report side effects to FDA at FDA-1088 or at /medwatch. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment.
Most MAO inhibitors should also not be taken for two weeks before treatment with this medication. Ask your doctor when to start or stop taking this medication. Before taking cyclobenzaprine, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies.