Flexeril Addiction, Abuse, and Symptoms

How Flexeril affects the brain

Flexeril works on the brain stem to reduce motor activity, which can affect the action of certain chemicals called neurotransmitters. These chemicals send messages from nerve cells to target cells, such as muscle cells or the cells in the glands of the endocrine system, either inhibiting or increasing electrical activity in those cells.

Researchers don’t understand exactly what causes Flexeril to relax the muscles, but some suspect that it works on a neurotransmitter called GABA, an inhibitory neurotransmitter. When GABA attaches to receptors in the brain, it produces a calming effect. It’s this calming effect that may lead to a sense of euphoria or enhanced well-being, causing some individuals to start misusing Flexeril.

Behavioral signs of Flexeril usage and abuse

It can be difficult to identify Flexeril addiction at first, but over time, behavioral changes start to appear. Flexeril is known to cause aggressive behavior, paranoia and delusions, especially at high doses. Individuals with paranoia may believe that other people are out to get them, or they may believe that they’re being threatened even if they’re not. People with paranoia may also think that the people around them are involved in conspiracies.

In some cases, paranoia turns into full-fledged delusions, which are characterized by irrational thoughts and beliefs. No matter how hard they try, loved ones cannot persuade the individual that their thoughts and feelings aren’t real.

Flexeril abuse can also lead to changes in how an individual behaves at work or in an academic environment. An employee who abuses Flexeril may start showing up late, missing work more often than usual or having trouble completing assignments on time. Aggressive behavior may also interfere with work relationships or cause the individual to lose his or her job. In students, Flexeril abuse can cause a decline in academic performance. Students may also skip school, stop doing their homework assignments, or display aggressive behavior when communicating with teachers or classmates.

How Flexeril affects the body

Flexeril affects the body in several ways, some of which depend on the dosage and whether the individual takes it with alcohol or other substances. The main effect of Flexeril is relaxation of the muscles, but taking this medication can also cause the individual’s blood pressure to drop. Because Flexeril has an inhibitory effect, it also causes drowsiness and fatigue. Chronic use may lead to headaches, dizziness, insomnia, and mood changes.

Early physical effects of Flexeril typically develop within one hour of taking the drug. These effects include drowsiness, dizziness, and muscle relaxation. Some users experience dry mouth, lower blood pressure, and a slowed heart rate within the first hour of taking Flexeril.

Severe and long-term physical effects of Flexeril

Flexeril has a legitimate use as a muscle relaxant to relieve the pain associated with muscle spasms, strains, and sprains; however, long-term use of this medication can lead to severe long-term effects. One of the potential outcomes is tachycardia or an increased heart rate. In some individuals, tachycardia caused by Flexeril use can also lead to abnormal heart rhythms. Because Flexeril can dilate the blood vessels, it can also cause a serious drop in blood pressure, which may lead to fainting.

Long-term use of Flexeril can also lead to adverse events involving the digestive system. For example, some users develop diarrhea or gastrointestinal discomfort, while others experience vomiting, inflammation of the stomach, or increased flatulence. In rare cases, long-term use of Flexeril has been linked to reduced bile flow and inflammation of the liver.

Flexeril may also affect the nervous system, integumentary system (skin) and urinary system. Potential effects on the nervous system include seizures, vertigo, tremors, insomnia, abnormal sensations, and double vision. Some people experience increased sweating as a result of long-term Flexeril use. The use of this medication may also cause urinary retention or increased urinary frequency.

Further Resources

MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health, has more information on Flexeril, including an overview of why it’s prescribed and an explanation of how to take it safely when prescribed. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency also has more information on the illicit use of Flexeril in the United States.

Flexeril use has increased steadily over the past two decades

As of 2004, approximately two million American adults used Flexeril and other prescription muscle relaxants, according to data gathered as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). In 2018 and 2019, more than 26 million Flexeril prescriptions were picked up from U.S. pharmacies, indicating a significant increase in the number of people using Flexeril to relieve pain associated with musculoskeletal conditions.

The increased use of Flexeril has also led to an increase in the number of medical emergencies involving the drug. In 2016, Flexeril was mentioned in more than 10,000 cases handled by the American Association of Poison Control Centers; more than 4,000 of those cases involved exposure to Flexeril and no other substances, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Among the single exposures, four people died, and another 75 experienced major medical outcomes. In 2017, exposure to Flexeril caused 97 major medical outcomes; the drug was also mentioned in 10,429 case reports from poison-control centers throughout the country.

Flexeril has properties similar to those displayed by tricyclic antidepressants, which may also be abused by individuals looking to achieve a sense of euphoria or make it easier to cope with stressful life circumstances. In 2010, nearly 3,900 drug overdose deaths involved some type of antidepressant. Individuals with depression are also more likely to have a substance-use disorder, increasing the risk that they’ll misuse Flexeril if it’s prescribed for muscle spasms or other musculoskeletal disorders.

Prescription Usage Demographics in the U.S.

In the United States, the use of muscle relaxants and other prescription drugs by adolescents has been increasing in some populations. This includes the use of benzodiazepines, some of which are used to relax the muscles, and skeletal muscle relaxants like Flexeril. Adolescents may combine Flexeril with alcohol or illicit substances to enhance its psychoactive properties, increasing the risk of dependence and enhancing the severity of any side effects.

According to the Monitoring the Future Study, however, overall prescription use has declined, at least among students in 12th grade who participated in the survey. In 2019, 14.6% of 12th graders reported that they had used some type of prescription drug in their lifetimes, a decrease from 15.5% the previous year. The number of 12th graders who reported using a prescription drug within the past year also declined, from 9.9% in 2018 to 8.6% in 2019, a statistically significant difference.

Adolescents may start abusing Flexeril after taking it to treat a legitimate medical condition, or they may experiment with Flexeril that was prescribed for a friend or family member.