How To Use Cyclobenzaprine For Opiate Withdrawal

In this article, I’m going to teach you how to use cyclobenzaprine for opiate withdrawal. Many opioid-dependent individuals have asked the question: “Does cyclobenzaprine help with opiate withdrawal?” And the answer is: “Yes and No.”

Some individuals have good experiences using cyclobenzaprine for opiate withdrawal, while others have stated cyclobenzaprine worsened their symptoms. To help you decide whether or not you want to use it…

This article will cover the most information regarding the use of cyclobenzaprine in the treatment of opiate withdrawal.

Cyclobenzaprine Overview

Cyclobenzaprine, sold under the brand name Flexeril, is a skeletal muscle relaxant and central nervous system (CNS) depressant. cyclobenzaprine is prescribed for skeletal muscle conditions, including muscle strains and sprains, and severe back pain.

Cyclobenzaprine is commonly used as an adjunct to rest and physical therapy for relief of muscle spasm associated with acute, painful musculoskeletal conditions.

Cyclobenzaprine Mechanism of Action

Cyclobenzaprine acts on the locus coeruleus, which is a nucleus in the pons (part of the brainstem) involved with physiological responses to stress and panic.

When an individual administers cyclobenzaprine, this results in increased norepinephrine release, potentially through the gamma fibers which innervate and inhibit the alpha motor neurons in the ventral horn of the spinal cord. cyclobenzaprine is structurally similar to Amitriptyline (a tricyclic antidepressant), differing by only one double bond.

Like other tricyclic antidepressants, cyclobenzaprine exhibits:

 

Cyclobenzaprine does not directly act on the neuromuscular junction or the muscle but relieves muscle spasms through a central action, possibly at the brainstem level. cyclobenzaprine also binds to the serotonin receptor and is considered a 5-HT2 receptor antagonist that reduces muscle tone by decreasing the activity of descending serotonergic neurons.

How Does Cyclobenzaprine Help With Opiate Withdrawal?

In 2012, doctors wrote over 26 million prescriptions for cyclobenzaprine, making it a very popular medication. The off-label use of cyclobenzaprine as an opiate withdrawal aid is much less common, though it does have the ability to reduce symptoms in some users.

Since cyclobenzaprine is a muscle relaxant and CNS depressant, it has the potential to reduce the following opiate withdrawal symptoms:

 

Note: After reading many threads on various forums relating to the use of cyclobenzaprine for opiate withdrawal, some individuals stated it reduced their anxiety, insomnia, and muscle soreness, while others stated it significantly worsened their Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). 

*Cyclobenzaprine is an anticholinergic. Anticholinergic drugs can make RLS much worse for many people, and can even cause RLS in people who don’t normally have it.

Cyclobenzaprine For Opiate Withdrawal

Opiate withdrawal is a horrific experience, and I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy. To reduce symptoms, medications often have the best results. If you want my honest opinion, you could do a lot better than using cyclobenzaprine for opiate withdrawal.

The following medications are in my opinion the most helpful for opiate withdrawal:

 

If you decide to use cyclobenzaprine for opiate withdrawal, there are some things that you should know beforehand. Before I get into the cyclobenzaprine for opiate withdrawal dosing protocol…

Please make sure to read the following links:

 

How To Use Cyclobenzaprine For Opiate Withdrawal

The recommended cyclobenzaprine dosage for adults is 5 mg three times per day. However, based on the individual patient response, the dosage may be increased to 10 mg three times daily.

Since acute opiate withdrawal induces significant anxiety, insomnia, and muscle soreness (among many other symptoms), most people would benefit from taking 10 mg at a time.

Here are some important tips for using cyclobenzaprine for opiate withdrawal:

 

Note: Many people have mixed cyclobenzaprine with alcohol or other relaxing substances and have ended up passing out. I realize insomnia is extremely severe during opiate withdrawal, so this may be the effect you are wishing for. While it’s horrible to consume alcohol during opiate withdrawal, other medications or natural supplements may be used under the care of your physician.

My Experiences Using Cyclobenzaprine

Though I never used cyclobenzaprine for opiate withdrawal, I did have a few experiences with it, both prescribed and recreationally. When I was 26 I hurt my neck surfing, and my doctor prescribed me cyclobenzaprine and naproxen sodium.

I quickly noticed that I wasn’t able to take cyclobenzaprine during the daytime if I had work because I would be WAY TOO TIRED. I was the manager of a busy restaurant, and I had to be very focused during lunch rushes.

The second time I used cyclobenzaprine I was watching Sunday football at a friend’s house.

We had plans to go play disc golf after the Chargers game, but out of nowhere the middle of my back felt strained. My friend told me to sit tight, he went to his bedroom for a minute, and when he returned to the living room he held out three pills for me.

In his hand were Valium, Vicodin, and cyclobenzaprine. This was years before I became addicted to opiates, but I still loved to take pills recreationally at that point in my life. I felt like a kid at a candy store! I said “THANKS!” Then I quickly swallowed the pills.

Within 30 minutes my back pain was nonexistent.

We drove to the disc golf course, and I proceeded to play one of the best rounds of my life! A victory for cyclobenzaprine and other drugs.

The third and final time I used cyclobenzaprine was when I was 27 and going through a short “meth phase” of my life. I didn’t even like meth, but my roommates were always doing it and offering it to me for free, so being the druggie that I was…I said, “F#ck it.”

One night I smoked a bunch of meth around 8 pm. By 2 am, I wished I hadn’t have smoked it because now I was doomed to stay up all night.

Like a complete idiot, I took ten cyclobenzaprine pills that were 5 mg each, for a grand total of 50 mg at once.

Furthermore, I washed those pills down with 24 ounces of Budweiser. The good news was I got my wish and went to sleep shortly after, but for about 30 minutes before passing out I was experiencing scary visual hallucinations (a side effect of overdosing on cyclobenzaprine).

Then I woke up at 5:30 am and felt SUPER heavy and tired. I felt horrible! Perhaps I should’ve just taken two pills and layed off the booze.  🙁

Cyclobenzaprine Addiction

By itself, cyclobenzaprine is not the greatest drug to abuse to get high. It can relax you and make you drowsy, but it’s not like you get this incredible high that becomes very addicting. However, many individuals abuse cyclobenzaprine by taking it with other drugs.

For instance, after Whitney Houston drowned in her hotel bathtub February 11th, 2012, the Los Angeles coroner identified cyclobenzaprine in her body, along with cocaine, marijuana, Benadryl, and Xanax.

The United States Drug Enforcement Agency lists cyclobenzaprine as “a drug of concern” and one that is frequently diverted from legitimate medical purposes to recreational use, and people who abuse it typically do so to enhance the effects of mind-altering drugs.

Natural Muscle Relaxer Alternative

Did you know there are POWERFUL herbal muscle relaxants available without a prescription? Countless individuals have eased their opiate withdrawal symptoms with passion flower, kava root, and valerian root. All three of these herbs have been reported to have GABA receptor activity.

GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter with the following effects:

 

I often refer to GABA as the brain’s natural Valium. In fact, a better way to describe it would be to call Valium the “unnatural GABA.” One way to reduce anxiety, insomnia, depression, and muscle soreness during opiate withdrawal is to use these muscle relaxant herbs.

In my opinion, the most powerful way to use these herbs is by taking an opiate withdrawal supplement.

There are currently a few different opiate withdrawal supplements on the market, and in my opinion, they are all high-quality and worth the money, but only one product contains all three of the muscle relaxant herbs I mentioned.

Opiate Withdrawal Formula

Opiate Withdrawal Formula is an opiate withdrawal and tapering supplement that has gained enormous popularity since it first arrived on the market. It contains a concentrated, synergistic blend of herbs, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that can reduce symptoms from coming off hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, heroin, Suboxone, methadone, and other opioid drugs.

If you can afford it, I also highly recommend taking this awesome supplement, because the benefits are just too good to pass up.

Key Concepts

 

Click here now to view my best home detox program. If you have any questions on how to use cyclobenzaprine for opiate withdrawal, please post them in the comment box below and I will respond in a timely manner.