[kitty]

Cam, I hurt my back about 10 days ago and made an appt w/a sports med dr. By the time of my appt, my back felt 90% better, but I went anyway. She prescribed something called Flexeril which is a muscle relaxant. I decided to take it because I thought it might help me sleep and/or feel better in general. I took it before bed on Fri night and it actually kept me up for about 3 hrs at first, but once I fell to sleep, I actually slept for about 5 hrs straight. And then the next day, I felt so relaxed all day. Sat night I also took some xanax and I had a great night sleep (comparatively) last night. I actually did not wake up until 8 am. I did not tell the dr I am taking xanax. Do you think there is any problem taking the flexeril for sleeping and relaxing or any problem taking it w/xanax?

[CamW]

Kitty - Flexeril™ (cyclobenzaprine) is a skeletal muscle relaxant that is closely related to the tricylic antidepressants (TCAs - like Elavil™ [amitriptyline]). The manufacturer recommends that it not be used for more than 2 weeks in a row. I think that this is more of a legal statement, than being a real pharmacological concern. Basically, what the company is saying is that there is no conclusive long term data or studies published on the use of Flexeril in sleeping. I have heard of a number of people with bad backs use the drug almost every night, to loosen muscles so that they can get to sleep.

I do believe that one can build a tolerance to the sedating effects of Flexeril. So, while it would work as a hypnotic in the short run, the sedating effects of the drug lessen with time.

Also, adding Flexeril to Xanax™ (alprazolam), or most any CNS depressant, causes an increase in sedation. There is an additive sedative effect when using the two drugs together.

I hope that this helps. - Cam

<font color=orange>"Sometimes you may be shown the light in the strangest of places, if you look at it right"
- Robert Hunter</font color=orange>

[kitty]

Thanks for your response Cam. My back seems to be fine now, but I am glad I have the flexeril because sometimes I wanna be sedated (sorry, I know you are a deadhead, but I thought I would drop a joey ramone reference).