Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) and Sleep Apnea

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
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Christine L
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Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) and Sleep Apnea

Post by Christine L » Thu Oct 23, 2014 11:48 am

I finally sent my doctor a message about a neck pain that has been bothering me off and on. He sent a prescription for Flexeril and I am wondering if it makes sleep apnea worse. Anyone know?

My husband said just to take two aspirin with every meal and get a massage every week and see if it goes away. He doesn't like for me to take drugs.

I did not pickup the prescription yet.

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Pugsy
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Re: Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) and Sleep Apnea

Post by Pugsy » Thu Oct 23, 2014 12:00 pm

Yeah...my sleep doc told me that muscle relaxers are the "worst" thing for making the airway tissues sag (relax) more.
Even worse than opiates for pain. She told me that she would much rather prescribe pain killers than muscle relaxers...if there was a choice.

That said..sometimes we gotta do what we gotta do to get rid of a problem (like bad muscle pains from whatever) so sometimes we have to take stuff short term to help get rid of a long term problem that also messes with sleep and our quality of life.

Couple of years ago when I broke my wrist and had to have some heavy duty pain killers for a few nights (or there would have been no sleep) I just took them and trusted the machine do deal with any extra "floppiness" the meds caused.
This is where it's nice to have auto adjusting pressures available...open that machine up and let it deal with whatever happens (if it happens) with more pressure if it needs to.
As it turned out my machine really didn't do anything all that differently...my AHI didn't change any more than it might normally vary and my pressures didn't vary any more than they normally vary and my central count didn't vary any more than it might normally vary.

Flexeril is pretty potent though...long half life and all that.
Soma is a good muscle relaxer without the long half life and maybe not so much potential for "floppiness" of those airway tissues.
YMMV but Flexeril at the 3 times a day dose usually recommended would knock me on my butt big time but Soma wasn't bad.

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Julie
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Re: Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) and Sleep Apnea

Post by Julie » Thu Oct 23, 2014 12:02 pm

But if your pain is caused by e.g. bulging discs, Flexeril won't do much for long in any case, and you possibly might need an x-ray, or CT scan.

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Christine L
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Re: Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) and Sleep Apnea

Post by Christine L » Thu Oct 23, 2014 12:10 pm

Pugsy wrote:Flexeril at the 3 times a day dose usually recommended would knock me on my butt big time
Oh, I don't want anything that makes me sleepy.

The whole thing sounds scary. I won't get the prescription filled.

Thanks.

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Re: Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) and Sleep Apnea

Post by Pugsy » Thu Oct 23, 2014 12:19 pm

Should you change your mind about the meds you might talk to your doctor about Soma.
YMMV but it didn't really make me sleepy. It's a lot "milder" all around.

Oh..also I second what Julie says...if this persist do have further follow up because it could be a sign of something more serious. I let mine go way too long and now I have a metal plate in my neck...now prompt attention probably wouldn't have prevented the need for the surgery and plate but I wouldn't have spent years in misery if I had done more sooner.

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Re: Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) and Sleep Apnea

Post by zoocrewphoto » Thu Oct 23, 2014 6:37 pm

I use flexeril when my back gets bad. I have a muscle that gets too tight and clamps down on my sciatic nerve. It probably does make sleep apnea worse, but I have a pressure range of 11-17 and that is able to keep my events under control. I still don't go over an ahi of 2, even with the flexeril.

Some people do get sleepy with. I do not. You can always try half a pill and see if it helps and if it causes any problems.

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Re: Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) and Sleep Apnea

Post by rjezuit » Thu Oct 23, 2014 6:50 pm

I have taken Flexeril on and off for years as needed. It will make you groggy at first, but that does wear off. Generally I take it in the evening about and hour before bed. This lessens the "hangover" sleepiness in the AM. With my auto CPAP, I do not see a difference. No higher pressures or AHI. Usually I take it for neck pain where a pinched nerve causes tightness/spasms which build and make the neck pain worse. It seems to break the chain of tightness/pain/more tightness more pain. I never really take it 3 times a day as prescribed, just as a relaxant for the spasming muscles at bedtime. For that it works well. You will be sleepy the next day, and possibly the next, but that goes away.

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Re: Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) and Sleep Apnea

Post by tortoisegirl » Thu Oct 23, 2014 8:50 pm

Flexeril and Skelaxin and the like don't cause drowsiness for me, just Zanaflex, which is what I take at bedtime for my neck issues (helps with insomnia too). I found Flexeril to be quite mild and didn't notice any effect whatsoever, drowsiness or any muscle relaxing properties. Zanaflex doesn't seem to cause apnea issues for me, even at a high dose, just the pain meds I take. Its always a good idea to pay attention to the machine data though, especially with a new med. Many people can tolerate Flexeril during the day without impairment, but like all meds, it varies person by person.

If you do try it, discuss it with your pharmacist, read the prescribing information, and try at least the first dose when at home when you don't have anywhere to be (possibly just a half dose if you want to play it safe). Flexeril is the or one of the muscle relaxers least likely to cause drowsiness, especially compared to some of the others. Soma is typically considered a more heavy duty muscle relaxer, or at least more heavily abused, and like benzos and opiates, doctors are getting away from prescribing it.

However, I think its prudent to get a full workup for your neck pain, not wait it out or try the Flexeril without knowing whether it is even a muscular tension type of problem. Plus although it may help, if you can get to the root of the pain and solve it, that would be a better long term solution. I'm surprised your doctor would just send your pharmacy a prescription for a muscle relaxer without seeing you. Although its quite unlikely to make things worse, it may not be likely to make them better either. I hope you get things figured out soon. Best wishes.

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Re: Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) and Sleep Apnea

Post by Nozzelnut » Fri Oct 24, 2014 9:07 am

I take cyclobenzaprine occasionally for my back when it tightens up. My pressures do go up and so does my AHI, but it keeps the muscles in my back from really locking up. It does make my drowsy and I only use it as needed.

Aspirin won't relax your muscles if they need that...

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Re: Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) and Sleep Apnea

Post by zoocrewphoto » Fri Oct 24, 2014 4:48 pm

rjezuit wrote:I have taken Flexeril on and off for years as needed. It will make you groggy at first, but that does wear off. Generally I take it in the evening about and hour before bed. This lessens the "hangover" sleepiness in the AM. With my auto CPAP, I do not see a difference. No higher pressures or AHI. Usually I take it for neck pain where a pinched nerve causes tightness/spasms which build and make the neck pain worse. It seems to break the chain of tightness/pain/more tightness more pain. I never really take it 3 times a day as prescribed, just as a relaxant for the spasming muscles at bedtime. For that it works well. You will be sleepy the next day, and possibly the next, but that goes away.

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Re: Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) and Sleep Apnea

Post by Guest » Mon Aug 07, 2017 5:45 pm

i TOOK FLEXURAL FOR 5 DAYS ON FORTH DAY STAYED DRUGED OUT FEELING ON FIFTH NIGHT I AWOKE DRAGGING MY BY PAP OFF I WAS STRUGGLING TO BREATH IT TOOK ME AWHILE TO GET TO WHERE I FELT LIKE I COULD BREATH AGAIN WAS SCARED TO GO BACK TO SLEEP WITH IT I MY SYSTEM WENT ON LINE AND DESIDED IT WAS BAD IDEAR TO TAKE IT IT ALSO SAID NOT WITH THYROID PROBLEMS WITCH I ALSO HAVE

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Re: Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) and Sleep Apnea

Post by chunkyfrog » Mon Aug 07, 2017 5:53 pm

Apparently, it also contributes to the deadly caps lock sydrome.
Painful for the sufferer and all who see the result.

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Julie
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Re: Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) and Sleep Apnea

Post by Julie » Mon Aug 07, 2017 6:28 pm

Flexeril is meant to relax muscles, and that would include your throat/airway tissues, the wrong thing for OSA.

And yes, please don't use caps - it feels like you're yelling at us!

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Re: Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) and Sleep Apnea

Post by Goofproof » Mon Aug 07, 2017 6:53 pm

chunkyfrog wrote:Apparently, it also contributes to the deadly caps lock sydrome.
Painful for the sufferer and all who see the result.
And the overpowering need to troll old dead posts. Mixing the drug with motor oil might free that caps lock key. Jim
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