Cyclobenzaprine and Depression: What Users Say

• Kan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 26, 2020

Cyclobenzaprine for Muscle Spasm "I took this briefly for pelvic pain and muscle spasm. I would never wish to scare anyone with side effect horror stories, but I strongly urge anyone taking this drug to pay attention to how they feel emotionally while on it. After just a few days of taking this drug, I felt highly irritable and was in the darkest of places in my mind. I was taking Tramadol at the same time so I thought maybe it was a combination of the two. I stopped the Tramadol for several days and just took the Flexeril, but I still felt unmotivated, depressed, and angry. I decided it was not worth it even if it offered physical relief. My advice is always do your research before starting a new medication. Many doctors don’t discuss these side effects with patients and depending on what you’re taking, you may unwittingly be on a dangerous combination of drugs that can affect you not just physically, but emotionally as well."

• Aci...
• October 20, 2015

Cyclobenzaprine for Muscle Spasm "I went to my doctor because I knew I had pulled a back muscle. I tend to have issues anyway with the piriformis muscle, and that aggravates the sciatica. Lower back pain and glutes tend to be an issue for me. I was getting moderate painful back spasms that felt like random poking with a sharp nail. He prescribed 10 mg three times a day for 10 days. After the second day of following the instructions, I was sleeping 14 hours a day. I was a zombie, I couldn't function, and I felt depressed. Why I still rate it at an 8/10 is because it did what it was supposed to. I stopped and only take it once at night around bedtime. If you're skeptical at first about taking the med, make sure you have the next day off. Don't drive on this."

• man...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 2, 2022

Cyclobenzaprine for Muscle Spasm "I took this for muscle pain, and it physically worked well but left me feeling incredibly depressed and hopeless to the point I had to discontinue. Not taking in combination with any other meds that could cause this, so unfortunately, I think this didn't vibe with my chemistry, even though the muscular relief and ability to sleep through the night was nice. I was only on 5 mg."

• man...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 2, 2022

Cyclobenzaprine for Muscle Spasm "I took this for muscle pain, and it physically worked well but left me feeling incredibly depressed and hopeless to the point I had to discontinue. Not taking in combination with any other meds that could cause this, so unfortunately, I think this didn't vibe with my chemistry, even though the muscular relief and ability to sleep through the night was nice. I was only on 5 mg."

• KD7...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 9, 2023

Cyclobenzaprine "I didn't experience any relief from the neck strain whatsoever. However, I did end up terribly constipated and required magnesium citrate to get relief. The worst side effect, in my experience, is the depression that slowly creeps in (which makes it feel like it is you, as opposed to being caused by the medication) that reaches a suicidal level in a couple of months. I stopped taking it, and within less than a week, I was absolutely fine. I warn everyone against taking this."

• Bam...
• June 27, 2019

Cyclobenzaprine for Muscle Spasm "This medication is great short term or for a one-off just to release muscle tension, but make sure you don't take it with any other medications for pain like opioids, anti-depressants/anxiety, even natural medications, or hay fever meds. If you take something else, make sure it's out of your system before taking Flexeril with it or other meds with Flexeril. I never really felt drowsy or depressed with Flexeril alone, but I started on a very healthy diet and herbal medication for ovulation, and there was a huge difference. The leaflet says there is no interaction with melatonin, but that is in my ovulation meds, and I do believe it makes you more drowsy. That it's interacting with my cleaner system. Now I'll only take this as a one-off but not with other meds or herbals. My neck/shoulder pain is stress-related, which also links in with diet, so I'm going to work on that first and use Flexeril as a last resort. Could be a dangerous medicine if not taken with caution."

• Liz...
• July 23, 2015

For Fibromyalgia "Cyclobenzaprine actually causes me to feel joint pain plus overall fatigue, far beyond what fibromyalgia does. A few days after taking this, I noticed feeling depression out of nowhere, getting short of breath quickly (I'm fairly young and work out 5-6 days a week for 60-70 minutes a day, so this is abnormal for me), my chest felt tight, my body was stiff as a board. I dropped this, and just one day later I felt completely back to my normal self."

• Lev...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 13, 2022

For Muscle Spasm "Waste of time. These dumb doctors don't know what they're giving to people. It severely messes with your brain chemistry and makes you feel empty and borderline suicidal for real. They figure if you do this to your brain, then your muscle spasms will subside. But the side effects ARE the main effect. Depression unlike you've ever had, lasting for a long, long time. The effect that was intended was so eclipsed by the depression it wasn't even worth it. Not a safe alternative to traditional meds like Valium and opiates, which actually WORK. I wish they would stop treating us like children and give us the good stuff, for Christ's sake. Cyclo, along with all these other antidepressants they hand out to deal with a variety of ailments, is very irresponsible. Don't mess with them. And before you take them, ask the doctor that prescribes them if they have ever tried Cyclo. Chances are not, those nerds just read some stupid studies that said they work for muscle relief, which they do not even do that!"

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 19, 2021

Cyclobenzaprine for Sciatica "I was prescribed this on two separate occasions, one was for TMJ issues 4 years ago. I heard really great things about this medication, including complete relief from pain and the ability to have a good night's rest. I took 10 mg every night for 30 days and didn't notice a difference in pain, nor was there an improvement in my sleep. It did absolutely nothing. I could barely open my mouth enough to take a bite of food or to yawn. Fast forward 4 years, and I'm prescribed it again for tight muscles in my lower back, causing some sciatica and lower back arthritis. I've taken it about 4-5 days, and my pain has actually gotten worse. I don't feel any positive effects from the medication whatsoever, no drowsiness, no pain relief. But I will say that I do believe it is negatively affecting my mood. I am also taking Elavil and noticed improvements with my mood while taking Elavil only. When Flexeril was added, on the 5th day, I noticed my mood has drastically declined (depression/anxiety)."

• Cal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 10, 2022

For Muscle Spasm "I was prescribed this for muscle and neck strain. Short-term and barely effective. Made me very depressed as well. I had to sleep longer than usual to sleep this drug off. Would not recommend at all. Stopped after 2 pills."

• Spa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2015

For Muscle Spasm "Awful experience taking this for lower back. But this week, I had a spasm in my neck. Ibuprofen was not working. I was so uncomfortable I took one pill. It did nothing except make me feel so tired. I didn't even remember going to bed. The next day, I felt extremely lethargic, zombie-ish, and depressed. It's an awful and pointless medication."

• Rac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2022

For Muscle Spasm "It does temporarily relax muscles, but is highly sedating. My doctor told me to only take it at night. Morning one, I slept through my alarm, and my kids were almost late for school. Morning two was a Saturday. I slept until 3 PM, then spent the rest of the day in a terrible depression. Like, sobbing uncontrollably and thinking I was having a full-blown crisis-type depression. Needless to say, none of that was fun for my family members or me. I will never take it again."

• Ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 12, 2018

For Muscle Spasm "I had severe muscle spasms in my upper leg due to scoliosis. I do lots of workouts, but I couldn't get it freed up. I used Flexeril (Musgud in Taiwan) before, and it had been able to free an extremely stubborn muscle cramp in my back before-together with exercise. Then one time I took it for 3 days in a row, and I felt extremely depressed (went through a breakup at that time, and it made things worse). Knowing it can cause extreme depression, I handle it with care, and a few days ago, I took it 2 nights in a row, and the second day I stretched that damn leg, and the upper inner spasm would just stretch out of existence. It's a wonder drug if you use it right. It can be awful if used wrong. I think it also gave me nightmares, and I did use it with low doses of Tramadol, just learning later that it has interactions. I only used 5 mg Cyclobenzaprine. BTW, it is OTC here in Taiwan."

• SMM...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 10, 2022

For Fibromyalgia "Been taking Flexeril for a little over a year now for fibromyalgia, but only at bedtime. I sleep VERY sound, and don't really want to get up in the morning, which is a problem since I have a full-time job! Recently, my husband asked his doctor if he would put him on a smaller dose of Flexeril, and his doctor said he wouldn't because it's not meant for long-term use. So, I dug around and found this website, and SO glad I did! I have been feeling increasingly depressed, short-tempered, easily agitated, etc., and now I am wondering if it's the Flexeril! Thinking about taking melatonin instead, as I can't deal with being 'Debby Downer' all the time...."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 7, 2018

For Muscle Spasm "My doctor prescribed 10 mg, it had no effect. In addition, I started to get depressed. I don’t recommend this drug."